Toner cartridge having reduced toner capacity and method of using the same
View Patent ↗A toner cartridge included with an image forming device when initially sent to a user. The cartridge has a limited toner capacity. The user is able to print with the small capacity cartridge upon initially receiving the image forming device. Once the toner is exhausted, a second large capacity cartridge having a greater toner capacity can replace the small capacity cartridge. The small capacity cartridge and the large capacity cartridge are constructed in a similar shape to be mounted in the same manner within the image forming device.
1. A method of supplying an image forming device to a user, the method comprising the steps of:
prior to first using shipping the image forming device to the user with a first cartridge having a first maximum toner capacity and a first housing having a first external shape;
forming images with the image forming device and using a divider wall that provides the toner from the first cartridge;
supplying the user with a second cartridge having a second maximum toner capacity and a second housing having a second external shape; and
replacing the first cartridge with the second cartridge;
the first maximum toner capacity being less than the second maximum toner capacity;
the first external housing shape being substantially the same as the second external housing shape.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising constructing the first housing and the second housing using a common manufacturing process.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising using a common mold and producing the first housing and the second housing.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising filling the second cartridge with at least twice a toner amount as the first cartridge.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising constructing the second cartridge to have a greater weight than the first cartridge.
6. A method of manufacturing a plurality of toner cartridges comprising the steps of:
forming a plurality of identical toner cartridge housings;
forming a first toner cartridge using one of the plurality of the housings, the first toner cartridge having a first maximum toner capacity by positioning a rigid divider wall across the one of the plurality of said housings;
forming a second toner cartridge using at least another one of the housings having a second maximum toner capacity;
the first maximum toner capacity being less than the second maximum toner capacity.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising forming the plurality of identical toner cartridge housings using a common mold.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising shipping an image forming device with the first toner cartridge to a user.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising using the image forming device and replacing the first toner cartridge with the second toner cartridge.
10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising forming the second toner cartridge with at least 50% greater toner capacity than the first toner cartridge.
11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising attaching a greater number of agitating members to the second toner cartridge than to the first toner cartridge.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising attaching a greater number of gears to the second toner cartridge than to the first toner cartridge.
13. A method of manufacturing a plurality of toner cartridges comprising:
forming a plurality of substantially identical toner cartridge housing;
forming a first toner cartridge using one of the plurality of housings, the toner cartridge having a space capable of holding toner and a wall dividing that space to define a first toner area having a first maximum toner capacity;
forming a second toner cartridge using another one of the housings having a space capable of holding toner substantially the same as the space in the first cartridge without the dividing wall to define a second toner area having a second maximum capacity.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising forming the plurality of identical toner cartridge housings using a common mold.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising attaching a greater number of agitating members to the second toner cartridge than to the first toner cartridge.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising attaching a greater number of gears to the second toner cartridge than to the first toner cartridge.