Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one embodiment includes a body having a toner reservoir containing toner and a non-volatile memory device containing a table having a plurality of toner feed rates, each toner feed rate corresponds to the number of 1/1652 of a rotation a drive element turns to move one gram of toner out the outlet port at a predetermined amount of toner in the reservoir.

Abstract: A replaceable unit 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 an axis of rotation. A first magnet and a second magnet are connected to the shaft and rotatable around the axis of rotation in response to rotation of the shaft. The first magnet and the second magnet are detectable by a magnetic sensor when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device. A polarity of the first magnet is oriented opposite a polarity of the second magnet relative to the shaft. An amount of angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet varies depending on an amount of toner in the reservoir.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a tray having a storage area extending between a front end and a rear end of the tray. The tray has an opening at the front end permitting insertion and removal of a replaceable unit into and out of the storage area. A biasing member biases the replaceable unit toward the front end of the tray. A latch on the tray is movable between a latched position restraining the replaceable unit from moving toward the front end of the tray and an unlatched position freeing the replaceable unit to move toward the front end of the tray permitting removal of the replaceable unit from the storage area. A latch releasing mechanism on the replaceable unit unlatches the latch on the tray for removing the replaceable unit from the storage area.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a body having a reservoir for storing toner. The body has an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for exiting toner from the reservoir. A shutter positioned at the outlet port is slidable between a closed position blocking the outlet port and an open position unblocking the outlet port. A lock is sandwiched between a portion of the shutter that faces the outlet port and a portion of the body that the shutter slides along. The lock is movable between a locked position blocking the shutter from moving from the closed position to the open position and an unlocked position permitting the shutter to move from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes an elongated body extending along a lengthwise dimension between a front and a rear of the body. The body has a reservoir for holding toner. The body includes an extension downward from the bottom of the body near the rear of the body. The extension has a downward chute formed therein in fluid communication with the reservoir. A rear face of the extension is unobstructed to receive a bias force in a forward direction toward the front of the body along the lengthwise dimension. An outlet port on the bottom of the extension is in fluid communication with the chute for transferring toner out of the reservoir. The replaceable unit may include a positioning bump on the bottom of the body at a rearmost position on the bottom of the body.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. An outlet port is positioned on the housing for transferring toner out of the toner cartridge. A first vent has a first inlet opening positioned to receive air from outside the housing, a first outlet opening positioned to exit the received air into the reservoir, and a first one-way valve that permits airflow through the first vent from the first inlet opening to the first outlet opening and prevents airflow through the first vent from the first outlet opening to the first inlet opening. A second vent is positioned to introduce air received at the outlet port into the reservoir.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner and an outlet for exiting toner from the housing. A channel in fluid communication with the outlet has an inlet positioned between the first end and the second end of the reservoir. A rotatable auger is positioned along the channel. Paddles extend from a rotatable shaft in the reservoir. A first set of one or more paddles are positioned between a first end of the reservoir and the inlet of the channel and a second set of one or more paddles are positioned between a second end of the reservoir and the inlet of the channel. The first and second sets of paddles are angled to direct toner away from the first end and the second end of the reservoir, respectively, and toward the inlet of the channel.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A channel runs along the bottom of the housing and includes a portion open to the reservoir forming an inlet to the channel and a portion closed to the reservoir and open to an outlet port for exiting toner from the housing. A rotatable auger in the channel moves toner from the inlet toward the outlet port. Paddles extend from a rotatable shaft in the reservoir. A first paddle set is positioned between a first end of the reservoir and the inlet of the channel and a second paddle set is positioned between a second end of the reservoir and the inlet of the channel. The first and second paddle sets are angled to direct toner away from the first and second ends of the reservoir, respectively, and toward the inlet of the channel.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. The replaceable unit includes a rotatable drive coupler and a rotatable shaft that has a cross pin on an axial end of the shaft, generally orthogonal to the shaft. At least a portion of the drive coupler is exposed on an exterior of the housing and unobstructed to receive rotational force when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device. A pocket is formed in a first axial side of the drive coupler. The axial end of the shaft and the cross pin are removably positioned in the pocket such that upon rotating the drive coupler in an operative direction rotational force is transferred from surfaces of the drive coupler forming the pocket to the cross pin causing the shaft to rotate with the drive coupler.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. An outlet port is positioned on the housing for transferring toner out of the toner cartridge. A first vent has a first inlet opening positioned to receive air from outside the housing, a first outlet opening positioned to exit the received air into the reservoir, and a first one-way valve that permits airflow through the first vent from the first inlet opening to the first outlet opening and prevents airflow through the first vent from the first outlet opening to the first inlet opening. A second vent is positioned to introduce air received at the outlet port into the reservoir.

Abstract: A method for programming memory of a replaceable unit of an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes determining an amount of toner in a reservoir of the replaceable unit. The amount of toner determined is converted to an estimate of an amount of rotation of a shaft that will be sensed before the reservoir of the replaceable unit runs out of usable toner. The estimate of the amount of rotation of the shaft that will be sensed before the reservoir of the replaceable unit runs out of usable toner is stored in the memory of the replaceable unit.

Abstract: A toner container including a first electrode disposed within the toner container, a second electrode electrically connected to the first electrode and disposed within the toner container, and a sense electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The sense electrode and the first electrode form a first capacitor having a first capacitance that changes in response to a change in toner amount existing therebetween. The sense electrode and the second electrode form a second capacitor having a second capacitance that changes in response to a change in toner amount existing therebetween.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having an inner volume forming a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir. A paddle is mounted to the shaft. The paddle includes a magnet that has a magnetic field detectable by a magnetic sensor for detecting the motion of the paddle.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. The toner cartridge includes a first vent having an inlet opening positioned to receive air from outside the housing, an outlet opening positioned to exit the received air into the reservoir, and a one-way valve that permits airflow through the first vent from the inlet opening to the outlet opening and prevents airflow through the first vent from the outlet opening to the inlet opening. A check valve limits airflow through the first vent from the inlet opening to the outlet opening.

Abstract: A method for estimating an amount of toner remaining in a reservoir of a replaceable unit for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes rotating a shaft positioned in the reservoir and measuring an amount of revolution of the shaft. A paddle mounted on the shaft and free to fall ahead of the rotation of the shaft is pushed by the rotation of the shaft. An estimate of the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir is decreased based on the measured amount of revolution of the shaft. The paddle is sensed near a lowest center of gravity of the paddle. The estimate of the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir is adjusted when the number of times the paddle is sensed near the lowest center of gravity of the paddle per revolution of the shaft increases.

Abstract: A method for estimating an amount of toner remaining in a reservoir of a replaceable unit for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes measuring an amount of revolution of a shaft in the reservoir of the replaceable unit, decreasing an estimate of the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir based on the measured amount of revolution of the shaft, monitoring whether a pattern of widths of digital pulses generated from a magnetic sensor when the magnetic sensor senses a magnetic field of a magnet connected to a paddle mounted on the shaft in the reservoir when the paddle is near a lowest center of gravity of the paddle changes, and adjusting the estimate of the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir when the pattern of widths of digital pulses generated from the magnetic sensor changes.

Abstract: A method for estimating an amount of toner remaining in a reservoir of a replaceable unit for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes receiving by processing circuitry pulses from a magnetic sensor. Each pulse is indicative that the magnetic sensor detected a magnet on a moving paddle positioned in the reservoir. The processing circuitry counts the number of the pulses received from the magnetic sensor. Upon receiving a request from a controller of the image forming device, the processing circuitry sends to the controller of the image forming device the count of the pulses received from the magnetic sensor and resets the count of the pulses received from the magnetic sensor.

Abstract: A replaceable unit 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. A drive element is exposed on an exterior of the housing unobstructed to receive rotational force. The drive element is operatively connected to the shaft to rotate the shaft upon receiving the rotational force. A sensor is positioned to sense a rotational motion of the shaft. A processor is mounted on the housing and in electrical communication with the sensor. An electrical contact in electrical communication with the processor is exposed on the exterior of the housing unobstructed to mate with a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The processor is programmed to send information related to the rotational motion sensed by the sensor to a controller in the image forming device.

Abstract: A replaceable unit 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. A paddle is mounted on the shaft. A sensor is positioned on the housing outside of the reservoir and positioned to sense a rotational motion of the paddle when the shaft rotates. A processor is mounted on the housing and in electric communication with the sensor. An electrical contact is in electric communication with the processor and exposed on an exterior of the housing unobstructed to mate with a corresponding electrical contact when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes an elongated body extending along a lengthwise dimension between a front and a rear of the body. The body has a reservoir for holding toner. The body includes an extension downward from the bottom of the body near the rear of the body. The extension has a downward chute formed therein in fluid communication with the reservoir. A rear face of the extension is unobstructed to receive a bias force in a forward direction toward the front of the body along the lengthwise dimension. An outlet port on the bottom of the extension is in fluid communication with the chute for transferring toner out of the reservoir. The replaceable unit may include a positioning bump on the bottom of the body at a rearmost position on the bottom of the body.