Methods and apparatus for splitting a printer cartridge

1 . A printer cartridge splitting apparatus comprising:

first cutting means for cutting in a first plane;

second cutting means for cutting in a second plane offset from the first plane by a predetermined distance; and

means for supporting a printer cartridge in position for the first and second cutting means to split the printer cartridge by cutting along the first and second planes.

2 . The printer cartridge splitting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the printer cartridge comprises a first portion and a second portion, said first portion attached to said second portion along first and second seams, and wherein the first cutting means is positioned to cut the printer cartridge along the first seam and the second cutting means is positioned to cut the printer cartridge along the second seam.

3 . The printer cartridge splitting apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first cutting means is adapted to remove a thin layer of material along the first seam, and the second cutting means is adapted to remove a thin layer of material along the second seam.

4 . The printer cartridge splitting apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the first portion comprises a developer roller housing; and

the second portion comprises a toner hopper.

5 . The printer cartridge splitting apparatus of claim 1 wherein means for supporting comprises means for engaging pins extending from the printer cartridge.

6 . A toner cartridge splitting apparatus comprising:

guide rails for supporting a toner cartridge, said toner cartridge comprising a first portion and a second portion;

a first cutting blade disposed in a first plane of operation for cutting the toner cartridge along the first plane as the toner cartridge is moved along the guide rails; and

a second cutting blade disposed in a second plane of operation for cutting the toner cartridge along the second plane as the toner cartridge is moved along the guide rails, said second plane of operation offset from the first plane of operation by a predetermined distance such that the cutting of the toner cartridge along the first plane and the second plane separates the first portion from the second portion.

7 . The toner cartridge splitting apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first portion is attached to the second portion along first and second seams, and wherein the first cutting means is positioned to cut the toner cartridge along the first seam and the second cutting means is positioned to cut the printer cartridge along the second seam.

8 . The toner cartridge splitting apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first cutting blade is adapted to remove a thin layer of material along the first seam, and the second cutting blade is adapted to remove a thin layer of material along the second seam.

9 . The toner cartridge splitting apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

the first portion comprises a developer roller housing; and

the second portion comprises a toner hopper.

10 . The toner cartridge splitting apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the guide rails comprises a recess for engaging pins extending from the printer cartridge.

11 . A method of splitting a toner cartridge comprising a first portion and a second portion, the method comprising:

providing a toner cartridge splitting apparatus comprising a first cutting device for cutting in a first plane and a second cutting device for cutting in a second plane offset from the first plane;

moving the toner cartridge adjacent the first and second cutting devices, said first cutting devices cutting the toner cartridge in the first plane, said second cutting device cutting the toner cartridge in the second plane; and

separating the first portion of the toner cartridge from the second portion of the toner cartridge.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the first portion comprises a developer roller housing and the second portion comprises a toner hopper.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the first portion is attached to the second portion along first and second seams, and said first cutting device separates the first portion from the second portion along the first seam, and said second cutting device separates the first portion from the second portion along the second seam.

14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the toner cartridge splitter further comprises a guiding device for holding the toner cartridge, the method further comprising, after the step of providing, the step of:

placing the toner cartridge onto the guiding device.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the step of moving further comprises the substep of:

sliding the toner cartridge along the guiding device.