Patent ID: 7509081

Claim:
An agitator for a toner cartridge comprising: an agitator shaft that extends along a rotational axis and a plurality of radially directed ribs; a plurality of cross bar members that rotate freely about the agitator shaft are engaged by the ribs against free rotation when the shaft moves in a direction of shaft rotation, the cross bar members being constructed and arranged to break away from engagement by the ribs and into free rotation on the shaft in response to application of predetermined resistance thereto against the direction of shaft rotation such that the cross bar members break through the ribs when the cross bar members encounter a higher level of resistance at higher toner levels, thereby allowing the cross bar members to remain seated in the toner while the ribs continue rotation through the toner; and wherein the cross bar members are constructed and arranged to remain in engagement with the ribs and rotate through the toner therewith when the cross bar members encounter a lower level of resistance at lower toner levels.