Integrated toner cartridge with toner agitator and sensing device

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EP 2 196 865 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	01.09.2010 Bulletin 2010/35

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	16.06.2010 Bulletin 2010/24

(21)	Application number: 10158326.8

(22)	Date of filing: 01.04.2005

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International Patent Classification (IPC):

G03G 21/18^(2006.01)

G03G 15/08^(2006.01)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

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Priority:

01.04.2004 US 521326 P

(62)	Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
	05735117.3 / 1730601

(71)	Applicant: Cartridge Corporation of America, Inc.
	Clearwater FL 33762 (US)

(72)	Inventor:
	Miller, Steven Mobile AL 36608 (US)

(74)	Representative: Meissner, Bolte & Partner
	Anwaltssozietät GbR Postfach 10 26 05 86016 Augsburg 86016 Augsburg (DE)

(54)	Integrated toner cartridge with toner agitator and sensing device

(57) A toner cartridge with a uni-body construction reduces the cost of production as well as reducing the chance of failure during use. The toner cartridge includes a waste bin having a leading end that can be sculpted to mate with the cartridge-receiving cavities of a large number of printers. Additional improvements include an improved toner beater and sensing apparatus, the elimination of a pivotal motion between the elements of the cartridge, an enhanced method of determining the amount of toner remaining in the toner chamber, and an improved means of agitating the toner within the toner chamber.

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