Claims
- 1. A device for separating a toner cartridge having a hopper, a mounting member and a gasket, the hopper and mounting member having peripheral portions joined along the outer edge of the gasket, the device comprising:
- means for removing the outer edge of the gasket;
- a container shaped to accommodate the cartridge, wherein said container has first and second connectable halves, the cartridge being accommodated between said halves and each halve having walls, said walls of said first halve engaging the peripheral portions of the hopper and said walls of said second halve engaging the peripheral portions of the mounting member, said container allowing said removing means access to the outer edge of the gasket;
- means for aligning the cartridge relative to said removing means, said removing means being aligned to engage the outer edge of the gasket; and
- means for moving the cartridge linearly relative to said removing means to cut away the outer edge of the gasket.
- 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said aligning means comprises a rail aligned with said removing means, said rail having means for positioning said container on said rail.
- 3. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for moving the cartridge linearly relative to said cutting means comprises a linear bearing in which said rail is mounted.
- 4. The device of claim 3, wherein said rail aligns the cartridge relative to said removing means to remove the outer edge of the gasket to a predetermined depth.
- 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said removing means includes first and second blades, said blades being spaced apart a predetermined distance, said rail being positioned between said blades, said first blade cutting away a first outer edge of the gasket to a predetermined depth and said second blade cutting away a second outer edge of the gasket to a predetermined depth.
- 6. The device of claim 1, wherein said container further includes a guide member, and said aligning means includes a reference surface, a positioning wall, a guide bar spaced a predetermined distance from said referencing surface to accommodate said guide member, and a plate spaced a predetermined distance from said positioning wall to accommodate said guide member.
- 7. The device of claim 6, wherein said container is a cart having wheels that engage said reference surface.
- 8. The device of claim 7, wherein said guide member is one of said wheels of said cart.
- 9. The device of claim 8, wherein said aligning means aligns the cartridge relative to said removing means to remove the outer edge of the gasket to a predetermined depth.
- 10. The device of claim 9, wherein said removing means is a blade that cuts away the outer edge of the gasket to a predetermined depth.
- 11. The device of claim 1, wherein said connectable halves are securely connected by clamping means.
- 12. The device of claim 6, wherein said guide bar restricts said guide member from vertical movement greater than said predetermined distance.
- 13. The device of claim 9, wherein said removing means includes a plurality of blades to cut away the outer edge of the gasket to a predetermined depth.
- 14. A device for separating a toner cartridge, the toner cartridge including a hopper, a mounting member and a gasket interposed between the hopper and the mounting member, the gasket being joined to both the hopper and the mounting member along the gasket outer edge to thereby join together the hopper and mounting member, the device comprising:
- cutting means for removing the outer edge of the gasket to separate the hopper from the mounting member;
- means for holding the cartridge, the holding means being shaped to accommodate the cartridge such that the cutting means only contacts the gasket outer edge and prevents the cutting means from contacting the hopper and the mounting member;
- means for aligning the gasket outer edge in a substantially co-planar relationship with the cutting means; and
- means for moving the cartridge linearly relative to the cutting means while maintaining the substantially coplanar relationship between the gasket outer edge and the cutting means.
- 15. The device of claim 14, wherein said holding means comprises a container which limit vertical movement of the cartridge in the container, said container.
- 16. The device of claim 15, wherein said container has first and second connectable halves, the cartridge being accommodated between said halves and each half having said walls, said walls of said first half engaging the peripheral portions of the hopper and said walls of said second half engaging the peripheral portions of the mounting member.
- 17. The device of claim 16, wherein said aligning means comprises a rail aligned with said removing means, said rail having means for positioning said container on said rail.
- 18. The device of claim 17, wherein said means for moving the cartridge linearly relative to the cutting means comprises a linear bearing in which said rail is mounted.
- 19. The device of claim 18, wherein said rail aligns the cartridge relative to said cutting means to remove the outer edge of the gasket to a predetermined depth.
- 20. The device of claim 19, wherein said cutting means includes first and second blades, said blades being spaced apart a predetermined distance, said rail being positioned between said blades, said first blade cutting away a first outer edge of the gasket to a predetermined depth and said second blade cutting away a second outer edge of the gasket to a predetermined depth.
- 21. The device of claim 20, wherein said holding means comprises a container which limits vertical movement of the cartridge in the container.
- 22. The device of claim 21, wherein said container is a cart having wheels that engage said reference surface.
- 23. The device of claim 22, wherein said guide member is one of said wheels of said cart.
- 24. The device of claim 23, wherein said aligning means aligns the cartridge relative to said cutting means to remove the outer edge of the gasket to a predetermined depth.
- 25. The device of claim 24, wherein said cutting means is a blade that cuts away the outer edge of the gasket to a predetermined depth.
- 26. The device of claim 16, wherein said connectable halves are securely connected by clamping means.
- 27. The device of claim 21, wherein said guide bar restricts said guide member from vertical movement greater than said predetermined distance.
- 28. The device of claim 24, wherein said cutting means includes a plurality of blades to cut away the outer edge of the gasket to a predetermined depth.
Parent Case Info
The present invention is a continuation-in-part of prior patent application Ser. No. 825,850, filed Jan. 27, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,068.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
825850 |
Jan 1992 |
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