| US 7,352,976 B2 | ||
| Imaging cartridge status indicator | ||
| Debbie A. Balch, 1411 E. Lewis, Boise, Id. 83712 (US); and Santiago Rodriguez, 1655 S. Wind Dancer Way, Boise, Id. 83712 (US) | ||
| Filed on Oct. 29, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/977,310. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0093384 A1, May 04, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 399—27 [299/262] | 15 Claims |
| 1. An imaging cartridge, comprising:
a housing having a reservoir for holding a supply of imaging material, the housing insertable into an imaging device;
an indicator window; and
a status indicator contained within the housing and configured to be made visible, from within the housing, through the indicator
window following a triggering event;
wherein the status indicator is a status indicator selected from a group consisting of:
a status indicator that, prior to the triggering event, is blocked from being visible though the indicator window by the imaging
material, the triggering event including consumption of at least a substantial amount of the imaging material to reveal the
status indicator:
a status indicator integrated into a paddle, wherein the imaging material is toner and the cartridge comprises a toner agitator
that includes the paddle; and
a resilient body configured to be held by the imaging material in a flexed position outside the view of the indicator window
and released into view of the indicator window once at least a substantial portion of the imaging material has been consumed.
|