Laser printer with light-exposure prevention

US4943815A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Charles Stanley Aldrich · Nicholasville, US
• James A. Craft · Lexington, US
• James Philip Harden · Lexington, US
• Steven R. Komplin · Lexington, US
• William S. Rousey · Lexington, US
• Praful M. Shah · Lexington, US
• Earl Dawson Ward II · Richmond, US
• Bernard L. Wilzbach · Lexington, US
• Terry L. King · Versailles, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 29, 1989
• Grant date: Jul 24, 1990
• Expiry date: Jun 29, 2009

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03G2221/18
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

When cover (8) of the laser printer (3) is closed, absence of the replaceable cartridge (15) or the shroud assembly (9) will activate both an electrical and a mechanical interlock. A moveable switch actuator (16) on the shroud assembly will be absent if the assembly is omitted and will not find a guide ramp (46) if the cartridge is absent, thereby assuring power to the light source remains off. A shutter (13) also blocks the normal light path and is moved aside by a pin (14) on the cartridge, and therefore blocks light unless a cartridge is installed. Walls (31) on the cartridge surround the shutter during normal use to form a protective light baffle. The laser printhead (2) is fixed within the shroud so that separation requires a necessary electrical cable (72, 74) to be disconnected.