Hold down assembly for a developer unit of an image forming device

Inventors: Brian Lester Boettcher (Versailles, KY); Bartley Charles Gould, II (Lexington, KY); Brian Lee Hawes (Lexington, KY); Glen Alan Reidhaar (Lexington, KY); Edward Lynn Triplett (Lexington, KY)

Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.

G03G21/1821 G03G15/0875 G03G15/0896 G03G21/1676 G03G2215/068 G03G2221/163 G03G2221/1853

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12681427
App. No.: 19/027,116
Granted: Jul 14, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A toner container for use with a developer unit of an image forming device includes a body having a reservoir for holding toner and an engagement arm that is movable relative to the body between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The engagement arm includes a first engagement surface for contacting a cam surface in the image forming device and receiving an actuation force from the cam surface to move the engagement arm from the disengaged position to the engaged position when the toner container is inserted into the image forming device. The engagement arm includes a second engagement surface for contacting and applying a hold-down force on a portion of the developer unit when the engagement member moves from the disengaged position to the engaged position when the toner container is inserted into the image forming device with the developer unit installed in the image forming device.

Claims (20)

1 . A toner container for use with a developer unit of an image forming device, comprising:

a body having a reservoir for holding toner; and

an engagement arm that is movable relative to the body between a disengaged position and an engaged position, the engagement arm includes a first engagement surface for contacting a cam surface in the image forming device and receiving an actuation force from the cam surface to move the engagement arm from the disengaged position to the engaged position when the toner container is inserted into the image forming device, the engagement arm includes a second engagement surface for contacting and applying a hold-down force on a portion of the developer unit when the engagement member moves from the disengaged position to the engaged position when the toner container is inserted into the image forming device with the developer unit installed in the image forming device.

2 . The toner container of claim 1 , wherein the engagement arm is spring biased towards a top of the body.

3 . The toner container of claim 1 , wherein the engagement arm is spring biased towards the disengaged position.

4 . The toner container of claim 1 , wherein the first engagement surface includes an upper end of the engagement arm.

5 . The toner container of claim 1 , wherein the second engagement surface includes a lower end of the engagement arm.

6 . The toner container of claim 5 , wherein the lower end of the engagement arm extends downward past a bottom of the body when the engagement arm is in the engaged position.

7 . A toner container for use with a developer unit of an image forming device, comprising:

a body having a reservoir for holding toner;

an outlet port on the body for exiting toner from the toner container to the developer unit; and

an engagement member movably mounted on the body, an upper end of the engagement member is positioned to receive an actuation force from a corresponding cam surface in the image forming device that causes the engagement member to move downward relative to the body and a lower end of the engagement member is unobstructed to contact and push downward on a portion of the developer unit to apply a hold-down force on the developer unit when the toner container is inserted into the image forming device with the developer unit installed in the image forming device.

8 . The toner container of claim 7 , further comprising a biasing member biasing the engagement member upward.

9 . The toner container of claim 7 , wherein the lower end of the engagement member extends downward past a bottom of the body upon the upper end of the engagement member receiving the actuation force.

10 . A toner container for use with a developer unit of an image forming device, comprising:

a body having a reservoir for holding toner; and

a hold-down mechanism on the body, the hold-down mechanism includes an engagement arm positioned to receive an actuation force from a corresponding cam surface in the image forming device and move toward the developer unit to apply a hold-down force on the developer unit in response to receiving the actuation force from the corresponding cam surface in the image forming device when the toner container is inserted into the image forming device with the developer unit installed in the image forming device.

11 . The toner container of claim 10 , wherein the engagement arm is translatable upward toward a top of the body and downward toward a bottom of the body.

12 . The toner container of claim 10 , further comprising a biasing member biasing the engagement arm upward.

13 . The toner container of claim 10 , wherein the engagement arm includes a lower end that extends downward past a bottom of the body upon the engagement arm receiving the actuation force.