Electrophotographic toner containment apparatus and methods
US6810226B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 31, 2003 |
| Grant date | Oct 26, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/0692
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus include a toner cartridge that defines a primary toner reservoir and at least one secondary toner reservoir. A gate device is also included, wherein the gate device is configured to selectively control the flow of toner from the secondary toner reservoir to the primary toner reservoir. Methods of operating a toner cartridge include providing a toner cartridge having a primary toner reservoir and a secondary toner reservoir. The toner cartridge is operated to initially deplete toner from the primary toner reservoir. At a given level of toner depletion from the primary toner reservoir, toner is dumped from the secondary toner reservoir into the primary toner reservoir for replenishment thereof.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.