Patents by Inventor Michael Gerald Ladell

Michael Gerald Ladell 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: 6421518
    Abstract: A toner loading system for an image forming apparatus includes a valve for a toner bottle and a valve opening member on a toner hopper of the image forming apparatus. The valve includes a first valve member non-rotatably secured to an opening of the toner bottle and a second valve member rotatably secured to the first valve member. The first and second valve members each include tabs and apertures. When the tabs of the first and second valve members are aligned the apertures of the first and second valve members do not overlap and no toner may be dispensed from the toner bottle. The toner bottle is engaged with the valve opening member on the toner hopper to dispense the toner. The valve opening member prevents rotation of the second valve member with respect to the hopper and permits rotation of the first valve member and the toner bottle with respect to the toner hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Rebecca Floyd, Andrew Michael South, Michael Gerald Ladell, Shaun Hutchinson