REPLACEABLE UNIT FOR AN ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING DEVICE HAVING A MAGNETIC SENSOR

• Main Authors: WILLIAMSON, Randal Scot, LEEMHUIS, James Richard
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 28.07.2021
• Subjects: CINEMATOGRAPHY; ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY; PHOTOGRAPHY; PHYSICS

A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An outlet is in fluid communication with the reservoir for exiting toner from the replaceable unit. An interface gear is provided on the housing, at least a portion of which mates with a corresponding drive gear to receive rotational force from the drive gear. A magnet is movable in response to rotation of the interface gear. A magnetic sensor on the housing is aligned with a point in a path of movement of the magnet for sensing a magnetic field of the passing magnet. An electrical contact is provided on the housing for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact in the image forming device is electrically connected to the magnetic sensor to convey an output thereof to a controller of the image forming device when the electrical contact of the replaceable unit is in contact with the corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit faces downward and is unobstructed from below permitting the corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device to contact the electrical contact of the replaceable unit from below.