IP Library Granted Patent US 11,675,290
Granted Patent B2
US 11,675,290 · App. 17/696,950 · Granted Jun 13, 2023

Reusable media packaging for imaging device

Inventors: Edward Lynn Triplett (Lexington, KY); Kevin Dean Schoedinger (Lexington, KY); Todd Allison Quinn (Carlisle, KY)
Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
G03G15/0894B65H1/027B65H1/266G03G15/0875G03G15/6502G03G21/12G03G21/1647G03G21/1676B65H2405/31G03G2215/0097G03G2215/00383
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,675,290
App. No.
17/696,950
Granted
Jun 13, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A reusable media shell has a frame to hold sheets of media in an interior. A removable cap connects to the frame and its manipulation unveils the media for picking by an imaging device. The cap resides on a terminal end of the frame so the frame covers a majority of the media. A lift plate in the interior forces upward the sheets for picking. Two magnets on the frame magnetically secure the frame to magnets in a base of the imaging device and position the sheets in the base. Upstanding walls, a lid and bottom define the interior of the frame. Inserts attached to the walls allow adjustment to accommodate various sizes of the media.

Claims (30)

1. A reusable media shell, comprising:

a frame having an interior to hold media;

a removable cap connected to the frame by snap fitting, whereby removal of the cap reveals the media in the interior of the frame but the frame covers a majority of the media; and

one or more magnets on the frame to magnetically secure the frame to an imaging device during use to position the media for picking by a roller of the imaging device.

2. The reusable media shell of claim 1 , wherein the cap includes a finger grip for users to depress and slide to detach the cap from the frame before use.

3. The reusable media shell of claim 1 , wherein the one or more magnets comprises two magnets along a leading edge of the frame underneath the media.

4. The reusable media shell of claim 1 , further including a lift plate in the interior of the frame residing underneath the media.

5. The reusable media shell of claim 4 , wherein the lift plate includes a plurality of springs.

6. The reusable media shell of claim 4 , wherein the lift plate includes an idler roller.

7. The reusable media shell of claim 4 , wherein the lift plate includes an actuator link to release the lift plate to lift the media upon the frame being inserted into the imaging device and being actuated by an actuator of the imaging devices that moves the actuator link.

8. The reusable media shell of claim 1 , further including a plurality of inserts in the interior of the frame to adjust the interior for various sizes of the media.

9. A reusable media shell, comprising:

a frame having an interior to hold media, a plurality of walls defining the interior;

a removable cap connected to the frame, the cap including a finger grip for users to depress and slide to detach the cap from the frame before use, whereby removal of the cap reveals the media in the interior of the frame but the frame covers a majority of the media; and

two magnets on the frame to magnetically secure the frame to an imaging device during use to position the media for picking by a roller of the imaging device.

10. The reusable media shell of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of walls includes two side walls and a base wall.

11. The reusable media shell of claim 10 , further including a lid and bottom connected to each of the two side walls and the base wall.

12. The reusable media shell of claim 11 , wherein the bottom extends further in length than the lid.

13. The reusable media shell of claim 11 , wherein the bottom includes a lift plate moveable in the direction of the interior of the frame residing underneath the media.

14. The reusable media shell of claim 13 , wherein the lift plate includes a plurality of springs.

15. The reusable media shell of claim 13 , wherein the lift plate includes an idler roller.

16. The reusable media shell of claim 9 , wherein the cap connects to the frame by snap fitting.

17. The reusable media shell of claim 9 , further including a plurality of inserts in the interior of the frame attached to the plurality of walls to adjust the interior for various sizes of the media.

18. An imaging device, comprising:

a pick roller for picking sheets of media;

a base having at least two magnets; and

a reusable media shell, the shell having

a frame having an interior to hold the sheets of media,

a removable cap connected to the frame by snap fitting, whereby removal of the cap reveals the sheets of media in the interior of the frame but the frame covers a majority of the sheets of media, and

two magnets on the frame to magnetically secure the frame to the at least two magnets of the base to position the media for picking by the pick roller.

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 Mar 22, 2022
From: TRIPLETT, EDWARD LYNN; SCHOEDINGER, KEVIN DEAN; QUINN, TODD ALLISON
To: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 059337/0399 →