IP Library Granted Patent US 11,962,724
Granted Patent B2
US 11,962,724 · App. 17/130,660 · Granted Apr 16, 2024

Imaging documents with media bundled and used in packaging materials

Inventors: Kevin Dean Schoedinger (Lexington, KY); Edward Lynn Triplett (Lexington, KY); Scott Allan Kendall (Lexington, KY)
Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
H04N1/00106G03G15/553G06Q10/06311G06Q10/20G06Q30/0283H04N1/00188H04N1/034
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,962,724
App. No.
17/130,660
Granted
Apr 16, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A business method includes imaging documents with an imaging device placed at a location. Media usage is monitored over a cellular network. Upon the media reaching a predetermined level, workers provide additional media. Workers exist in the “gig” economy and have preplaced media. No longer do users change or swap media in media trays. Packaging materials bundle the media. For use, only a portion of the packaging materials is opened thereby revealing an end of the media. Both the packaging materials and the exposed media are inserted into a reusable media shell in a manner making the media available for picking by the imaging device. Other embodiments are envisioned.

Claims (14)

1. A business method for imaging media with an imaging device having a reusable media shell, comprising:

placing the imaging device at a location;

delivering the media to the location, the media being bundled in packaging materials;

opening only a portion of the packaging materials but not an entirety thereby keeping most of the packaging materials about the media but revealing an end of the media;

inserting into the shell both the opened packaging materials and the media, the end of the media being made available for picking by the imaging device;

picking the media by the imaging device; and

imaging the media by the imaging device.

2. The business method of claim 1 , further including monitoring over a cellular network media usage in the imaging device.

3. The business method of claim 2 , further including dispatching a worker to deliver additional media for use in the imaging device upon a number of sheets of the media reaching a predetermined low level.

4. The business method of claim 2 , further including dispatching a worker to deliver additional media for use in the imaging device upon a number of the packaging materials reaching a predetermined low level.

5. The business method of claim 2 , further including charging a fee for the media usage.

6. The business method of claim 5 , wherein the fee corresponds to a number of sheets of media.

7. The business method of claim 5 , wherein the fee corresponds to a subscription service.

8. The business method of claim 1 , further including collecting an entirety of the imaging device from the location and replacing the imaging device with a second imaging device having a toner level above the toner level in the collected imaging device.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2026
From: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 074202/0192 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2026
From: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 074202/0293 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2025
From: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 073007/0118 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2025
From: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 073007/0346 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2020
From: SCHOEDINGER, KEVIN DEAN; TRIPLETT, EDWARD LYNN; KENDALL, SCOTT ALLAN
To: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 054763/0745 →