Patent Abstract:
Techniques are provided for modifying a printer cartridge and an imaging drum unit intended for installation in one type of printer to be installed in another type of printer or a plurality of printers. In one aspect, a method of modifying a toner cartridge may include modifying one or more end plate of the toner cartridge. In another aspect, a method of modifying a toner cartridge may include replacing one or more end plates of the toner cartridge with replacement end plates. In yet another aspect of the present invention, an imaging drum unit may include modifying one or more end plates of the imaging drum unit. In another aspect, an imaging drum unit may include replacing one or more end plates with replacement end plates.

Full Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to remanufacturing and modifying imaging process cartridges, such as printer toner cartridges or imaging drum units, and more particularly to techniques for modifying an imaging process cartridge or imaging drum unit intended to operate in one type or model of imaging device, such as a printer, to operate in additional types or models of imaging devices.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Printer cartridges are typically designed to provide the consumer a certain number of print copies before the toner or ink is exhausted. The total number of prints varies depending on the type, quality and density of the print provided by the printer. After all of the toner or ink is spent, the cartridges are either thrown away or recycled.  
         [0003]     An emerging industry has developed that deals with the recycling of printer cartridges. Typically, the cartridge is recycled by a cartridge remanufacturer, who receives spent printer cartridges and refurbishes them. The refurbishment process entails replacing the worn or nonfunctioning parts, refilling the cartridge with either toner or ink, and distributing the refurbished cartridges into the marketplace.  
         [0004]     Toner cartridges are typically designed to fit into one type of laser printer or family of laser printers. For example, the same toner cartridge may be used in an HP4200 or HP4300 monochrome laser printer. As new printer models are introduced, the printer manufacturer may decide to alter the physical characteristics of the printer cartridge. In some cases the alteration may be an entirely new shape or the printer manufacturer may only change a minor detail such as an indentation or a protrusion on the cartridge.  
         [0005]     Additionally, different toner cartridges may be used within the same printer. These toner cartridges may have very similar physical characteristics. For example, in the HP2500 color laser printer, there are four separate toner cartridges containing black and colored toner (magenta, cyan, and yellow). The physical differences between the toner cartridges for the HP2500 color laser printer are relatively minor. The HP2500 cartridge manufacturer has installed a protrusion in a unique location on one of the ends of each toner cartridge to distinguish each toner cartridge from one another. The protrusion mates with a corresponding recess in the printer&#39;s toner cartridge space. When the cartridge is inserted into the printer, the protrusion aligns with the recess allowing only the designated cartridge to be installed.  
         [0006]     A typical toner cartridge comprises an assembled plastic housing. The material of the housing may be molded plastic or other plastic composite. During the remanufacturing of the cartridge, the cartridge is disassembled, cleaned, refurbished and reassembled. The last step of the refurbishment process includes refilling the cartridge with toner and the cartridge is repackaged. As part of the refurbishment process, the toner cartridges may be modified in order to remove any restriction regarding usage.  
         [0007]     Additionally, some printers separate the toner storage function from the image transfer function. In these printers, toner is stored in the toner cartridge and an imaging drum unit performs the imaging function. In some printers, the imaging drum unit may be a field replaceable unit. Typically within the imaging drum unit is the OPC (Organic Photo Conductor) drum as well as the various image transfer components. The imaging drum unit may also have certain physical characteristics unique to a particular printer model type or family. For example, the imaging drum unit for the HP2500 and HP2550 may be identical except for a protrusion or recess located on the endplates of the unit.  
         [0008]     The present invention is intended for use in removing a protrusion on an end plate of a toner cartridge to allow the modified toner cartridge to be used in different locations within the same printer or other printers. Another embodiment of the present invention is designed to alter the physical characteristics of an imaging drum unit to allow the modified imaging drum unit to be used in other printers.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]     A method of modifying an imaging drum unit, said imaging drum unit sized to be installed in a first type of color imaging device and not sized to be installed in a second type of color imaging device, the method comprising: providing the imaging drum unit, said imaging drum unit only operable in said first color imaging device, said imaging drum unit not having a toner hopper, altering a physical characteristic of said imaging drum unit wherein said altering allows said imaging drum unit to be usable in said second color imaging device.  
         [0010]     A method of modifying an imaging drum unit, said imaging drum unit sized to be installed in a first type of color imaging device and not sized to be installed in a second type of color imaging device, the method comprising: providing the imaging drum unit, said imaging drum unit only operable in said first color imaging device, said imaging drum unit not having a toner hopper, said imaging drum unit further comprising a an end plate, removing said end plate, altering a physical characteristic of said end plate, reattaching said end plate to said imaging drum unit wherein said altered end plate allows said imaging drum unit to be usable in said second color imaging device.  
         [0011]     A method of modifying an imaging drum unit, said imaging drum unit sized to be installed in a first type of color imaging device and not sized to be installed in a second type of color imaging device, the method comprising: providing the imaging drum unit, said imaging drum unit only operable in said first color imaging device, said imaging drum unit not having a toner hopper, said imaging drum unit further comprising a first end plate, removing said first end plate, providing a second endplate, said second end plate having a different physical characteristic than said first end plate, replacing said first end plate with said second end plate, wherein said second end plate allows said imaging drum unit to be usable in said second color imaging device.  
         [0012]     A more complete understanding of the present invention, as well as further features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a front perspective exploded view of a prior art black HP2500 toner cartridge.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2A  shows a side perspective view of a gear side end plate the cartridge of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 2B  shows a side perspective view of a prior art gear side end plate of the cyan toner cartridge of the HP2500 color laser printer.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2C  shows a side perspective view of a prior art gear side end plate of the magenta toner cartridge of the HP2500 color laser printer.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2D  shows a side perspective view of a prior art gear side end plate of the yellow toner cartridge of the HP2500 color laser printer.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2E  shows a side perspective view of a gear side end plate in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3A  shows a side perspective view of a prior art gear side end plate of a black toner cartridge for use in the HP2550 color laser printer.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3B  shows a side perspective view of a prior art gear side end plate of a cyan toner cartridge for use in the HP2550 color laser printer.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3C  shows a side perspective view of a prior art gear side end plate of a magenta toner cartridge for use in the HP2550 color laser printer.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3D  shows a side perspective view of a prior art gear side end plate of a yellow toner cartridge for use in the HP2550 color laser printer.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4A  shows a side perspective view of a contact side end plate of a prior art black toner cartridge for use in the HP2550 color laser printer.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4B  shows a side perspective view of a contact side end plate in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows an exploded side perspective view of an imaging drum unit for use in the HP2500 printer.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6A  shows a front view of a gear side end plate of waste drive assembly for the imaging drum unit of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 6B  shows a front view of a drive side end plate of waste drive assembly for the imaging drum unit of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 7A  shows a front view of a gear side end plate of waste drive assembly for an imaging drum unit of an HP2550 color laser printer.  
         [0029]      FIG. 7B  shows a front view of a drive side end plate of waste drive assembly for an imaging drum unit of an HP2550 color laser printer. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0030]     The following detailed description of preferred embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention. In the discussion that follows, specific systems and techniques for repairing, manufacturing or remanufacturing an imaging cartridge, such as a toner cartridge. Other embodiments having different structures and operations for the repair, remanufacture and operation of other types of replaceable imaging components and for various types of imaging devices, such as laser printers, inkjet printers, copiers, facsimile machines and the like, do not depart from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0031]     Within the printer industry, printer manufacturers have employed various techniques to differentiate between toner cartridges or imaging drum units used in different printers. These techniques range from the obvious altering of the physical dimensions and shape of the toner cartridge or imaging drum unit to very subtle indentations or protrusions positioned at certain locations on the toner cartridge or imaging drum unit. For example, some printer manufacturers have installed protrusions such as fins or keys that extend out from the printer&#39;s toner cartridge compartment and are positioned inside a recess on the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is installed inside the printer. In other printer types this arrangement may be reversed. The key may exist on the toner cartridge, and the recess may exist inside the toner cartridge compartment inside the printer.  
         [0032]     In color laser printers, multiple toner cartridges are typically installed. These printers have separate toner cartridges for black, cyan, magenta and yellow toner. As is the case with the HP2500, the toner cartridges may be physically identical except for a key on the toner cartridge. The printer manufacturer typically provides the key to restrict the wrong toner cartridge from being installed in a particular toner cartridge location. In the HP2500 color laser printer for example, the key on a black toner cartridge restricts a black toner cartridge from being inserted into the location for a cyan toner cartridge.  
         [0033]     Additionally, in color laser printers, two separate units may perform the toner storage and image transfer function. In these printers, a separate toner cartridge and imaging drum unit work together during the printing process. The toner cartridge acts only as a storage device, transferring toner to the imaging drum unit. The imaging drum unit transfers the toner from the various toner cartridges and fuses the toner to the print media. In some printers, the imaging drum unit may be removed and replaced as a unit. Printer manufacturers may extend the same keying concept to the imaging drum units, differentiating between imaging drum units of different printer types.  
         [0034]     As new printer models are developed, “new” toner cartridges or imaging drum units may also be introduced. In some cases, the new toner cartridge or imaging drum unit may contain exactly the same components as those of the previous printer model. However, the new toner cartridge or imaging drum unit may have slightly different physical packaging. In some cases, the printer manufacturer may install different keys, or keys in different locations. Changing the size, shape, orientation or location of the keys allows the printer manufacturer to differentiate between a previously introduced toner cartridges or imaging drum units and those of newer models. This may allow the printer manufacturer to increase his margins by charging the consumer a premium for the new cartridge or imaging drum unit.  
         [0035]     Printer manufacturers may take advantage of existing toner cartridge technology by using an existing toner cartridge or imaging drum unit design and making only slight physical packaging modifications. For example, the black toner cartridge for the HP2500 color laser printer may have exactly the same internal components and even use the same toner as the black toner cartridge for the HP2550 color laser printer. In this case, the only packaging difference between the two cartridges is the size, shape, location and number of keys on the toner cartridge.  
         [0036]     Similarly, the imaging drum unit of the HP2550 color laser printer has only slightly different physical packaging characteristics when compared to the imaging drum unit for the HP2500 color laser printer. These details are described in greater detail in subsequent sections.  
         [0037]     In the toner cartridge refurbishment industry, the used toner cartridges and imaging drum units are collected and serviced by toner cartridge remanufacturers. The first step in the refurbishment process is the disassembling of the spent devices. Next, the internal components are separated. Non-functioning components are replaced, and the remaining components, as well as the body of the device undergo a cleaning process. In the final step the device is reassembled and new toner is added to the toner cartridge. The refurbished device is then packaged and distributed to the consumer.  
         [0038]     Part of the refurbishment process may include making physical alterations to the toner cartridge or imaging drum unit. For example, older cartridges or imaging drum units may be altered or converted into other compatible device types. Alternatively, the remanufacturer may remove all of the keys on a device, thus creating a “universal” cartridge that may be used in all locations within a printer or across multiple printers. The present invention provides a way of converting a printer toner cartridge of one type into another.  
         [0039]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of a prior art HP2500 black toner cartridge  100 . The cartridge  100  comprises a latch cover  102 , which is attached to a toner hopper  104 . A hopper cap  106  is affixed to the toner hopper  104  on the contact side  130  of toner cartridge  100 . Opposite the contact side  130  of the toner cartridge  100  is a gear side  140 . Attached to the toner hopper  104  on the contact side  130  is a support plate  108  and a contact side end plate  110 . On the gear side  140  of the toner hopper  104  is attached a support plate  108 , gears  118  and a gear side end plate  120 . A developer roller  112  rests in the toner hopper  104  extending from the contact side  130  to the gear side  140 . Installed on top of the developer roller  112  is a doctor blade  114 . Protecting the doctor blade  114  and developer roller  112  is a shipping protector  116 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 2A  displays a side perspective view of the gear side end plate  120  of toner cartridge  100 . Located on the gear side end plate  120  is a key  150 , which extends perpendicularly away from an exterior surface  160  of the gear side end plate  120 . When the cartridge is fully assembled, the key is roughly parallel to the developer roller  112 . The key  150  aligns with a recess (not shown) located within the black toner cartridge compartment inside the HP2500 color laser printer. As shown in  FIG. 2A , the key  150  is generally square and hollow in shape. The key also has an internal wall  153  and an external wall  151 . The key  150  prevents the black toner cartridge  100  from being inserted into the cyan, magenta, or yellow toner cartridge location within the printer.  
         [0041]      FIG. 2B  displays a gear side end plate  126  for the cyan toner cartridge used in the HP2500 color laser printer.  FIGS. 2C and 2D  display the gear side end plates  127 ,  128  for the magenta and yellow toner cartridges respectively. The keys  150  for these cartridges  126 ,  127 ,  128  are roughly the same shape, have an internal wall  153  and an external wall  151 , but are positioned at a different location on the gear side end plates. For ease of illustration, the present invention is described as it relates to the black toner cartridge  100 . The present invention may be applied to any of the aforementioned toner cartridges.  
         [0042]     In one embodiment of the present invention, the key  150  is removed from the gear side end plate  120  of toner cartridge  100 . This may be performed before the toner cartridge  100  is disassembled. Toner cartridge  100  may be inserted and secured in a conversion jig (not shown). After the toner cartridge  100  is secured into place, a Rotozip™ tool may be used to remove the key  150 . Alternatively, a Dremmel™ tool or other type of cutting instrument may be used instead of the Rotozip tool. In another embodiment of the present invention, the key  150  may be removed with a pair of snips or cutters. After the key  150  has been removed, a file or other type of instrument may be used to smooth out any rough edges where the key  150  was formally located.  
         [0043]      FIG. 2E  shows a converted gear side endplate  125  with the key  150  removed. Once the key  150  has been removed, the toner cartridge  100  may then continue through the refurbishment process. At the end of the refurbishment process, after replacing any worn or defective components, the toner cartridge  100  may be filled with any color toner. With the restriction of the key  150  removed, the cartridge  100  may fit into any of the toner cartridge locations within the HP2500 color laser printer.  
         [0044]      FIG. 3A  displays a gear side end plate  121  used on a black toner cartridge for the HP2550 color laser printer. The gear side end plate  121  has a generally elliptical key  155 .  FIG. 3B  displays a prior art gear side end plate  122  for the cyan toner cartridge used in the HP2550 color laser printer.  FIGS. 3C and 3D  display the gear side end plates  123 ,  124  of a prior art magenta and yellow toner cartridges used in the HP2550 color laser printer. As can be seen by comparing  FIGS. 3A-3D , the key  155  differs only in location. The key  155  is similar in shape and has an external wall  151  and an internal wall  153  similar to key  150 . As is the case with the HP2500, the location of the key  155  determines which color toner is installed in the toner cartridge for the HP2550 color laser printer.  
         [0045]     In another embodiment of the present invention, key  155  may be removed using any of the previously described techniques. After key  155  is removed, the resulting gear side end plate resembles the gear side end plate  125  as shown in  FIG. 2E .  
         [0046]      FIG. 4A  displays a contact side end plate  110  of toner cartridge  100 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , the contact side end plate  110  comprises no keys.  FIG. 4B  displays a contact side end plate  111  for an HP2550 black toner cartridge. As can be seen in  FIG. 4B , a key  152  extends perpendicularly away from an external surface  170  of contact side end plate  111 . Key  152  has an internal wall  153  and an external wall  151 . The other toner cartridges (cyan, magenta and yellow) for the HP2550 color laser printer have the same key  152  in the same location on their respective contact side end plates. When converting an HP2550 black toner cartridge to one for use in any of the other toner locations within the HP2550 color laser printer, only key  155  needs to be removed. If any of the cartridges for the HP2550 are to be converted for use in the HP2500 color laser printer, both keys  152  and  155  need to be removed. The same removal process as described above may be used to remove the key  152 .  
         [0047]     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the gear side end plate  120  or the contact side end plate  110  may be replaced with a preformed replacement part that does not have any keying features. The replacement part may be a gear side end plate  120  or contact side end plate  110  that has undergone the conversion process as outlined herein. Alternatively, the replacement part may be a prefabricated gear side end plate  120  or contact side end plate  110  manufactured without the keying features previously described.  
         [0048]      FIG. 5  displays an exploded front perspective view of a prior art HP2500 imaging drum unit  400 . The imaging drum unit  400  comprises a PCR  402  (Primary Charge Roller) installed in the PCR housing  404 . Located next to the PCR is the OPC (Organic Photo Conductor) drum  408 . Covering the OPC drum  408  is the drum shutter  406 . The OPC drum  408  is housed in the OPC assembly  410 . Touching the OPC drum  408  is the wiper blade  414  supported by the support blade  412 . Mounted on top of the wiper blade  414  is the recovery blade  416 . Covering the blades ( 412 ,  414  and  416 ) is a handle  418 . Below the handle is the transfer belt  420  which is installed on the waste drive assembly  422 . On the end of the transfer belt  420  is the belt cleaning assembly  424 . The imaging drum unit  400  does not contain any structure such as a toner hopper  104  ( FIG. 1 ), since it is receiving toner paced on the transfer belt  420 , the toner cartridge  100 .  
         [0049]     The gears  424  of the waste drive assembly  422  are located on a gear side  450  of the imaging drum unit  400 . Also on the gear side  450  of the waste drive assembly  422  is a gear side end plate  430 . Opposite the gear side  450 , on a drive side  460 , is a drive side end plate  440 .  
         [0050]     During the printing process, the PCR  402  provides a uniform charge to the transfer belt  420  and consequently to the OPC drum  408 . As the image is transferred to the OPC drum  408 , the laser of the printer alters the charge on the OPC drum  408  to correspond with the image. The charged OPC drum  408  then picks up the appropriate amount of toner from the appropriate toner cartridge  100  corresponding to the image. The toner is then transferred from the OPC drum  408  to the transfer belt  420 , which is in turn transferred and fused to the print media. The belt cleaning assembly  424  removes any excess toner remaining on the transfer belt  420 . Similarly, the wiper blade  414  removes any excess toner remaining on the OPC drum  408 .  
         [0051]     As stated previously, printer manufacturers may reuse many of the same components and technology as they migrate from one printer model to the next. For example, the imaging drum unit  400  may contain many of the same components as the imaging drum unit for the HP2550. Additionally, the imaging drum unit  400  may be physically identical to the imaging drum unit for the HP2550 with the exception of a recess or protrusion on the end plates ( 450 ,  460 ).  
         [0052]      FIG. 6A  shows front view of the gear side end plate  430  and  FIG. 6B  shows the drive side end plate  440  of an imaging drum unit  400  for the HP2500 color laser printer.  FIG. 7A  shows a gear side end plate  430 ′ and  FIG. 7B  shows a drive side end plate  440 ′ present on an imaging drum unit used in the HP2550 color laser printer. As shown in  FIG. 7A , a recess  485  exists on the right end  470  of the gear side end plate  430 ′. The recess  485  mates with a protrusion inside the imaging drum unit compartment within the printer, when the imaging drum unit is inserted into the printer. Similarly the drive side end plate  440 ′ comprises a fin  495  located on a left side  480  which mates with a corresponding recess located inside the imaging drum unit compartment within the printer.  
         [0053]     Thus, the imaging drum unit  400  for the HP2500 color laser printer will not fit into the HP2550 color laser printer because the gear side end plate  430  does not have a recess  485 . Similarly, the imaging drum unit for the HP2550 color laser printer will not fit into the HP2500 color laser printer due to the presence of fin  495 . The present invention eliminates this restriction.  
         [0054]     During the refurbishment and remanufacturing process, the recess  485  may be added to the gear side end plate  430  ( FIG. 6A ) of the imaging drum unit  400 . This may be performed before the imaging drum unit  400  is disassembled. Imaging drum unit  400  may be inserted and secured in a conversion jig (not shown). After the imaging drum unit  400  is secured into place, a Rotozip™ tool may be used to add the recess  485 . Alternatively, a Dremmel™ tool or other type of cutting instrument may be used instead of the Rotozip tool. Once the recess  485  has been added, a file or other type of instrument may be used to smooth out any rough edges.  
         [0055]     In another embodiment of the present invention, the key  495  ( FIG. 7B ) is removed from the drive side end plate  440 ′. This may also be performed before the imaging drum unit is disassembled. Imaging drum unit may be inserted and secured in a conversion jig (not shown). After the imaging drum unit is secured into place, a Rotozip™ tool may be used to remove the key  495 . Alternatively, a Dremmel™ tool or other type of cutting instrument may be used instead of the Rotozip tool. Once the key  495  has been removed, a file or other type of instrument may be used to smooth out any rough edges where the key  495  was formally located.  
         [0056]     In one embodiment of the present invention, the gear side end plate  430  may be replaced with a preformed replacement part that is similar to the gear side endplate  430 ′ comprising a recess  485 . In yet another embodiment, the drive side end plate  440 ′ may be replaced with a preformed replacement part similar to the drive side end plate  440  which does not have any keying features. The replacement parts may be a gear side end plate  430  or drive side end plate  440 ′ that has undergone the conversion process as outlined herein. Alternatively, the replacement part may be a prefabricated gear side end plate  430 ′ with the recess  485  or a drive side end plate  440  manufactured without the keying features previously described.  
         [0057]     Within the toner cartridge or imaging drum unit, an electronic identification chip may be installed. The identification chip may contain information relating to the printer type, printer manufacturer, amount of toner contained in the toner cartridge and so forth. Even if the physical restrictions between cartridge types have been removed, the electronic identification chip may need to be replaced in order to allow the toner cartridge or imaging drum unit to function properly in its new location or printer.  
         [0058]     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and that the invention has other applications in other environments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. The following claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific embodiments described herein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6