US 12,265,353 B2
Toner container having positioning features for electrical contacts
Emily Stefano Adams, Lexington, KY (US); Brian Lester Boettcher, Versailles, KY (US); Brian Lee Hawes, Lexington, KY (US); and Edward Lynn Triplett, Lexington, KY (US)
Assigned to Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, KY (US)
Filed by LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC., Lexington, KY (US)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/129,517.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/448,061, filed on Feb. 24, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0288819 A1, Aug. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/80 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0875 (2013.01); G03G 2215/0665 (2013.01); G03G 2215/068 (2013.01)] 29 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A toner container for use in an image forming device, comprising:
a body having a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side positioned between a first end and a second end of the body, the first end of the body leads during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device and the second end trails during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device, the body has a reservoir for holding toner;
a drive coupler on the first end of the body for mating with a corresponding drive coupler in the image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device for receiving rotational motion from the corresponding drive coupler in the image forming device;
an electrical contact on the first end of the body for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device, the electrical contact of the toner container is positioned higher than the drive coupler of the toner container; and
an alignment guide on the first end of the body, the alignment guide includes an upper guide having a bottom contact surface for contacting an electrical connector of the image forming device that includes the corresponding electrical contact of the image forming device during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device to move the electrical connector of the image forming device downward relative to the toner container during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device with the first end of the body leading, the alignment guide includes a side guide having an inner side contact surface for contacting the electrical connector of the image forming device during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device to move the electrical connector of the image forming device relative to the toner container in a direction away from the first side of the body and toward the second side of the body during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device with the first end of the body leading, the bottom contact surface of the upper guide is positioned higher than the electrical contact of the toner container, the inner side contact surface of the side guide is positioned lower than the bottom contact surface of the upper guide and closer to the first side of the body than the electrical contact of the toner container is to the first side of the body.