Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING A TONER CARTRIDGE
PRINTER
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This PCT Application claims the benefit of US Patent Application No.
17/079,151, titled
Method And System For Converting A Toner Cartridge Printer, filed on October
23, 2020, the
contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by this incorporated
herein by this reference
as though set forth in their entirety and to which priority is claimed.
FIELD OF USE
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to printer cartridge
replacement. More
specifically, this disclosure relates to methods and systems of converting a
white toner cartridge
printer to a printer that prints with at least one non-standard toner.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Cyan (C), Magenta (M), Yellow (Y), and White (W) (or CMYW) laser or
Light Emitting
Diode (LED) type printers come standard with Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and White
toner and/or
drum cartridges. However, CMYW toner printers are generally unable to be
converted to print
with toner other than cyan, magenta, yellow, and white, as these printers lack
the appropriate toner
and/or drum cartridges and the appropriate raster image processor (RIP)
software for printing
cartridge re-mapping.
[0004] Thus, there is a need for a system and method for converting a standard
CMYW (four
cartridge) toner printer to print using a non-standard color, such as clear,
fluorescent, sublimation,
metallic, or clear fluorescent.
SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS
[0005] To minimize the limitations in the cited references, and to minimize
other limitations that
will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification,
the toner printer
converting, refilling, and refurbishment systems and methods disclosed herein
preferably allow a
user to convert a CMYW printer into one that prints using non-standard toner,
including clear,
clear fluorescent, fluorescent, metallic gold, metallic silver, light colors,
ceramic toners, security
toners, and sublimation toners. For purposes of this disclosure, white is not
a non-standard toner.
[0006] In various embodiments, the methods and systems may be used to convert
a four cartridge
white toner cartridge(s) and/or drum(s) printing machine to a printing machine
that prints clear,
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-10-18 1
clear fluorescent, fluorescent, metallic gold, metallic silver, light colors,
ceramic toners, security
toners, and sublimation toners.
[0007] In one embodiment, a white CMYW toner cartridge printer is converted by
replacing one
of the standard color or white toner printing cartridges, from any slot, with
a non-standard toner
cartridge and then using raster image processing (RIP) software to match or
set in which printer
slot each of the cartridges resides.
[0008] In another embodiment, a standard toner cartridge printer is converted
by replacing the
color or white toner printing cartridge in the last toner printing cartridge
position, which allows
the printer to print clear, clear fluorescent, fluorescent, metallic gold,
metallic silver, and/or light
colors as a foreground color. The RIP software may allow a user to set how
much non-standard
toner should be added to maximize the look of the finished print job.
[0009] In one embodiment, the cartridge re-mapping is used to allow a clear,
clear fluorescent,
fluorescent, metallic gold, metallic silver, light colors, security,
sublimation, or non-standard toner
printing cartridge to be put in the "W" (White) slot (which may be the first
slot in the printer) of a
CYMW printer and the CYM cartridges are all in their original slots. In this
manner, a layer of
non-standard toner may be put down, on top of which a full color layer may be
printed, and may
be used on clear and dark media.
[0010] In one embodiment the printing cartridge integrated circuits (chips)
may be swapped along
with the toner printing cartridges, and the RIP software is configured to
ensure that the correct
colors print regardless of which slot the colors or non-standard toner
cartridges are placed.
[0011] The RIP software may allow or feature color rasterization, which
enables the printer to use
less toner by selectively removing pixels to use less toner. This feature
gives a nicer feel and ads
more durability to the finished product.
[0012] One embodiment may be a method of converting a CMYW toner printer to
print with one
or more non-standard toners, comprising the steps: providing a CMYW toner
printer; wherein the
CMYW toner printer has four starting toner printing cartridges; wherein the
four starting toner
printing cartridges comprise a white toner printing cartridge, a cyan toner
printing cartridge, a
magenta toner printing cartridge, and a yellow toner printing cartridge;
removing one or more of
the four starting toner printing cartridges from the CMYW toner printer, such
that there are one or
more empty toner cartridge slots; providing one or more non-standard toner
printing cartridges
that are each filled with one type of one or more non-standard toners; and
installing the one or
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-10-18 2
more non-standard toner printing cartridges into the one or more empty toner
cartridge slots. The
method may also comprise providing raster image processor (RIP) software, such
that the CMYW
toner printer is able to incorporate the one or more non-standard toner into
one or more images
printed by the CMYW toner printer. The RIP software allows for remapping of
the CMYW toner
printer. The one or more non-standard toner printing cartridges may each have
an appropriate chip,
such that when the one or more non-standard toner printing cartridges are
installed in the CMYW
printer the appropriate chip is configured to allow the one or more non-
standard toner printing
cartridges to be recognized by the CMYW toner printer. The one or more non-
standard toner
printing cartridges may be selected from the group of non-standard toner
printing cartridges
consisting of: clear and clear fluorescent. The one or more non-standard toner
printing cartridge
may be selected from the group of non-standard toner printing cartridges
consisting of: clear; clear
fluorescent; metallic, ceramic, light/pastel; sublimation, and security. The
CMYW toner printer
may be a laser toner printer. The CMYW toner printer may be a LED toner
printer.
[0013] One embodiment may be a method of converting a CMYW toner printer to
print with a
non-standard toner, comprising the steps: providing a CMYW toner printer;
wherein the CMYW
toner printer has four starting printing cartridges; wherein the four starting
printing cartridges
comprise a white toner printing cartridge, a cyan toner printing cartridge, a
magenta toner printing
cartridge, and a yellow toner printing cartridge; removing the white toner
printing cartridge from
the CMYW toner printer, such that there is an empty toner cartridge slot;
providing a non-standard
toner printing cartridge that is filled with a non-standard toner; and
installing the non-standard
toner printing cartridge into the empty toner cartridge slot. The method may
also comprise the
step of providing raster image processor (RIP) software, such that the CMYW
toner printer is able
to incorporate the non-standard toner into one or more images printed by the
CMYW toner printer.
The RIP software may allow for remapping of the CMYW toner printer. The non-
standard toner
printing cartridge may have an appropriate chip, such that when the non-
standard toner printing
cartridge is installed in the CMYW printer the appropriate chip is configured
to allow the non-
standard toner printing cartridge to be recognized by the CMYW toner printer.
The non-standard
toner printing cartridge may be selected from the group of non-standard toner
printing cartridges
consisting of: clear; clear fluorescent; metallic, ceramic, light/pastel;
sublimation, and security.
The CMYW toner printer may be a laser toner printer. The CMYW toner printer
may be a LED
toner printer. The non-standard toner printing cartridge may be selected from
the group of non-
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-10-18 3
standard toner printing cartridges consisting of: clear and clear fluorescent.
The empty slot may
be a first cartridge position and the non-standard toner printing cartridge is
installed into the first
cartridge position and the non-standard toner is configured to underprint. The
empty slot may be
a fourth cartridge position and the non-standard toner printing cartridge is
installed into the fourth
cartridge position and the non-standard toner is configured to overprint.
[0014] The non-standard toner printing cartridge may be selected from the
group of non-standard
toner printing cartridges consisting of: white; clear; clear fluorescent;
metallic, ceramic,
sublimation, and security. The printer may be a laser toner printer or a LED
toner printer.
[0015] In one embodiment the printer may comprise raster image processor (RIP)
software, such
that the printer is able to incorporate the non-standard toner(s) into one or
more images printed by
the printer. The RIP software allows for remapping of the printer. The RIP
software may also
allow black to be printed using cyan, magenta, and yellow (the amount of each
may be set or
determined by RIP; usually 50-80% of each color is used to create a rich
black). The cyan,
magenta, and yellow, if replaced may be non-standard toners, such as cyan
sublimation, yellow
security, magenta ceramic, fluorescent cyan, pastel (light) yellow, etc.
Depending on the specific
contents of the non-standard toners that are swapped in, printing in rich
black may not be possible.
[0016] Clear fluorescent toner is desirable because it may only be visible
under an ultraviolet light.
[0017] In some embodiments, once the non-standard toner cartridges have been
swapped in, the
printer settings and/or RIP software may allow the user to utilize those
swapped in toners by telling
the printer to print using the toners that were removed. So, for example, if
the cyan toner cartridge
was removed, then the printer may print 100% cyan to print using the swapped
in cartridge.
[0018] It is an object of the present system and method for converting a CMYW
toner cartridge
printer into a printer that has at least one non-standard printing cartridge
printer that has at least
one non-standard printing cartridge.
[0019] It is an object of the present system and method for raster image
processor software to
provide cartridge remapping, which allows the system to print using a non-
standard toner from
different cartridge positions.
[0020] In one embodiment of the system and method may use new empty or
recycled empty toner
cartridges that have been pre-cleaned and filed with a non-standard toner. In
this embodiment the
original cartridge(s) that are removed do not have to be cleaned and filed,
they can immediately
be replaced by a prefilled new or used cartridge.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-10-18 4
[0021] Other features and advantages inherent in the system and method for
converting a standard
toner cartridge printer into white, metallic, or light toner printer claimed
and disclosed will become
apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description
and its accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The drawings are of illustrative embodiments. They do not illustrate
all embodiments.
Other embodiments may be used in addition or instead. Details which may be
apparent or
unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for more effective illustration.
Some embodiments
may be practiced with additional components or steps and/or without all of the
components or
steps, which are illustrated. When the same numeral appears in different
drawings, it refers to the
same or like components or steps.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a flow block diagram of one embodiment of the method of
converting a CMYW
toner printer to print with a non-standard toner with a single cartridge
conversion.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a flow block diagram of one embodiment of the method of
converting a CMYW
toner printer to a CMYX toner with a multiple cartridge conversion.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a flow block diagram of one embodiment of the method of
converting a CMYW
toner printer to print with one or more non-standard toner printing
cartridges.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0026] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are
set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of various aspects of one or more
embodiments. However, these
embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In
other instances,
well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in
detail so as not
to unnecessarily obscure aspects of embodiments.
[0027] While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments will
become apparent
to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. As will
be realized, these
embodiments are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all
without departing from
the spirit and scope of protection. Accordingly, the screen shots, figures,
and the detailed
descriptions thereof, are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not
restrictive. Also, the
reference or non-reference to a particular embodiment shall not be interpreted
to limit the scope of
protection.
[0028] In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe
certain features of one
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-10-18 5
or more embodiments. For purposes of the specification, unless otherwise
specified, the term
"substantially" refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of
an action,
characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, in
one embodiment, an object
that is "substantially" located within a housing would mean that the object is
either completely
within a housing or nearly completely within a housing. The exact allowable
degree of deviation
from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context.
However, generally
speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall
result as if absolute
and total completion were obtained. The use of "substantially" is also equally
applicable when
used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack
of an action,
characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result.
[0029] As used herein, the terms "approximately" and "about" generally refer
to a deviance of
within 15% of the indicated number or range of numbers. In one embodiment, the
term
"approximately" and "about", refer to a deviance of between 0.0001-40% from
the indicated
number or range of numbers.
[0030] In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe
certain features of one
or more embodiments. For purposes of the specification, unless otherwise
specified, the term
"printing cartridge(s)" generally refers to a toner cartridge, a laser toner
cartridge, a LED toner
cartridge, a drum cartridge, and/or a combined toner and drum cartridge.
[0031] As used herein, the term "toner" generally refers to a powder,
particulate, or dry ink that is
used in laser printers, printers, and printing machines to form the printed
text and images on the
medium being printed. Generally, toner particles are melted by the heat of a
fuser, and bound to
the media.
[0032] Regarding a CMYW printer, the letter "W" preferably stands for white.
[0033] Regarding a CMYX printer, the letter "X" refers to a non-standard toner
or toner color,
such as metallic, fluorescent, light, clear, clear fluorescent, ceramic,
and/or sublimation.
[0034] The term transfer material may typically refer to a polyurethane media
that accepts the
toner print job and then allows the print job to be transferred to a final
print surface via heat
transfer. The transfer material may also be constructed from any suitable
material, such as a
specially coated paper or even just plain paper. The final print surface is
preferably plastic or
polymer, such as, for example, a polyester shirt or product.
[0035] The present specification discloses a system and method for converting
a four cartridge
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-10-18 6
white toner cartridge printer to a non-standard toner printer. The method and
system for converting
a toner cartridge printer to a non-standard toner printer preferably requires
no special or dedicated
printer drivers.
[0036] The present method and system for converting a white toner cartridge
printer to a clear,
clear fluorescent, fluorescent, metallic gold, metallic silver, light colors,
ceramic toners, security,
and/or sublimation toner printer may allow the conversion of: (1) a conversion
of a CMYW
machine that has combined toner and drum cartridges; (2) a conversion of a
CMYW machine that
has separate toner and drum cartridges; and (3) a conversion of a CMYW machine
with a single
drum and separate toner printing cartridges.
[0037] Regarding the conversion of a CMYW machine that has a separate toner
and drum
cartridges, the conversion may comprise replacing one or more of the color
cartridges or the white
cartridge with one or more non-standard toner printing cartridge and replacing
the accompanying
one or more drums with one or more non-standard drum.
[0038] Regarding the conversion of a CMYW machine that has separate toner
printing cartridges,
but a single drum cartridge, the conversion may comprise replacing the white
or one or more of
the color cartridges with one or more non-standard toner printing cartridge
and cleaning the
accompanying drum portion of the respective toner(s) and priming it with non-
standard toner(s).
[0039] One embodiment of the present disclosure may be replacing the white
toner cartridge with
a clear or clear fluorescent toner cartridge. Typically, the white cartridge
may be in a first or fourth
position, which allows for under or over printing, respectively. Thus, when
the clear or fluorescent
toner cartridges are swapped in, they may under or over print, similar to how
the white toner
cartridge was used. This over and under printing with the clear, clear
fluorescent, or any other
type of non-standard toner may be done in a single pass by using raster image
processing (RIP)
software.
[0040] In another embodiment, the one or more non-standard toner printing
cartridges may be
provided by disassembling the removed printing cartridges to create one or
more empty cartridges,
which are then cleaned and refilled with a non-standard toner.
[0041] In one embodiment, the starting cyan, yellow, magenta, and white toner
printing cartridges
are original/new cartridges. In another embodiment the starting cyan, yellow,
magenta, and white
toner printing cartridges themselves were previously used and/or refurbished.
[0042] In various embodiments the positioning of the non-standard toner
cartridge(s) and the
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-10-18 7
programming of the RIP software allows the user to print with the non-standard
toner cartridge(s)
concurrently with the other colors in a single layer or print the non-standard
toner as a separate
layer before and/or after the other colors have printed.
[0043] FIG. 1 is a flow block diagram of one embodiment of the method of
converting a CMYW
toner printer to print with a non-standard toner with a single cartridge
conversion. FIG. 1 shows
that the method 1100 may comprise the steps: providing a CMYW toner printer
with four toner
printing cartridges, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and white (W) 1105;
the cartridges may
be in any order and the white cartridge may be in any position 1110; removing
the white toner
printing cartridge 1112; providing a non-standard toner printing cartridge
1115; installing the non-
standard toner printing cartridge into the cartridge position that is empty
after the white cartridge
was removed 1120; providing raster image processor (RIP) software for
cartridge remapping if
necessary 1130; wherein the non-standard toner printing cartridges are
selected from the group of
non-standard toner printing cartridges consisting of: clear and clear
fluorescent 1140; the RIP
software may allow the printer to recognize the non-standard toner printing
cartridge and
specifically incorporate that toner into the image; and; wherein the non-
standard toner printing
cartridges may be selected from the group of non-standard toner printing
cartridges consisting of:
clear; clear fluorescent, metallic, fluorescent, light/pastel, ceramic,
sublimation, and security 1160.
The non-standard toner cartridges may each have a chip that allows the printer
to recognize that
the non-standard toner has replaced the white cartridge, so that RIP software
may automatically
recognize what non-standard color has been put into the printer to replace the
white toner cartridge.
In other embodiments, the user may manually enter into the RIP software what
non-standard toner
was inserted into the printer. The RIP software is configured to allow the
printer to print images
that incorporate the non-standard toner. In some embodiments, the user may
move around the
three starting color toners after taking out the white toner. The non-standard
toner is then inserted
into the empty slot and the RIP software is used to remap the printer.
[0044] FIG. 2 is a flow block diagram of one embodiment of the method of
converting a standard
CMYW toner printer to a CMYX toner with a single cartridge conversion. FIG. 2
shows that the
method 1200 may comprise the steps: providing a CMYW toner printer with four
toner printing
cartridges, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and white (W) 1205; the
cartridges may be in any
order and the black cartridge may be in any position 1210; removing the black
toner printing
cartridge 1212; providing a white toner printing cartridge with an appropriate
chip, wherein the
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-10-18 8
chip allows the white toner printing cartridge to be recognized by the CMYW
toner printer 1215;
installing the white toner printing cartridge into the cartridge position that
is empty after the black
cartridge was removed 1220; providing raster image processor (RIP) software
for cartridge
remapping if necessary 1230; the RIP software may: (1) allow the printer to
recognize the white
toner printing cartridge and specifically incorporate that toner into the
image; and (2) allow black
to be printed using cyan, magenta, and yellow 1240 (the amount of each may be
set or determined
by RIP; usually 50-80% of each color is used to create a rich black). The
white toner may have a
chip that allows the printer to recognize that the non-standard toner has
replaced the black
cartridge, so that RIP software may automatically set black to print using of
each of the color toners
and automatically recognize what non-standard color has been put into the
printer to replace the
black toner cartridge. In other embodiments, the user may manually enter into
the RIP software
that the white toner was inserted into the printer. The RIP software is
configured to allow the
printer to print images that incorporate the white toner. In some embodiments,
the user may move
around the three color toners after taking out the black toner. The white
toner is then inserted into
the empty slot and the RIP software is used to remap the printer.
[0045] FIG. 3 is a flow block diagram of one embodiment of the method of
converting a CMYW
toner printer to print with one or more non-standard toner printing
cartridges. FIG. 3 shows that
the method of converting a CMYW toner printer 2000 may comprise the steps:
providing a CMYW
toner printer with four toner printing cartridges: cyan (C), magenta (M),
yellow (Y), and white
(W) 2005; wherein the four toner printing cartridges may be in any order 2010
within the CMYW
toner printer; removing one or more of the four toner printing cartridges
(one, two, three, or four
of the starting toner printing cartridges may be removed) 2015; providing one
or more non-
standard toner printing cartridges (preferably, the number of starting
cartridges removed, is the
same as the number of non-standard toner printing cartridges provided); the
provided non-standard
toner printing cartridges may be new or recycled/refurbished 2020; and
installing the one or more
non-standard toner printing cartridges into the slots where the one or more
starting toner printing
cartridges were removed 2025. In some embodiments, the non-standard toner
printing cartridges
may be selected from the group of non-standard toner printing cartridges
consisting of: clear; clear
fluorescent; fluorescent; metallic, ceramic, sublimation, or security toner
2030. In some
embodiments, the method may further comprise providing raster image processor
(RIP) software
for cartridge remapping if necessary 2040. In another embodiment, the non-
standard toner printing
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-10-18 9
cartridges each have an appropriate chip, such that when they are installed
the chip allows the non-
standard toner printing cartridge to be recognized by the CMYW toner printer
2050.
[0046] In some embodiments, the method may comprise, as examples and not by
limitation:
= removing all four starting toner cartridges and replacing them with four
CMYW
sublimation toner cartridges
= removing all four starting toner cartridges and replacing them with three
CMY fluorescent
cartridges and a clear toner cartridge
= removing all four starting toner cartridges and replacing them with three
CMY fluorescent
cartridges and a clear fluorescent toner cartridge
= removing all four starting toner cartridges and replacing them with three
CMY light/pastel
cartridges and a clear toner cartridge
= removing all four starting toner cartridges and replacing them with three
CMY light/pastel
cartridges and a clear fluorescent toner cartridge
= removing the three CMY colored cartridges and replacing them with CMY
fluorescent
cartridges
= removing the three CMY colored cartridges and replacing them with three
CMY
light/pastel cartridges
= removing the yellow cartridge and replacing it with gold metallic
= removing the white cartridge and replacing it with gold metallic, silver
metallic, white
metallic, or clear metallic
= removing the white cartridge and replacing it with clear fluorescent or
clear
= removing all three starting color toner cartridges and replacing them
with gold metallic,
silver metallic, and clear
= removing all four starting toner cartridges and replacing them with gold
metallic, silver
metallic, and clear, and fluorescent white
= removing all three starting color toner cartridges and replacement them
with gold metallic,
silver metallic, and fluorescent clear
= removing all four starting toner cartridges and replacing them with gold
metallic, silver
metallic, and fluorescent clear, and fluorescent white
= any combination of the above and the swapping may or may not include
matching similar
incoming toners to the outgoing toners
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-10-18 10
[0047] In some embodiments, the removed starting toner Unless otherwise
stated, all
measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, locations, and
other specifications,
which set forth in this specification, including in the claims that follow,
are approximate, not exact.
They are intended to have a reasonable range, which is consistent with the
functions to which they
relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain.
[0048] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment has been
presented for the purposes
of illustration and description. While multiple embodiments are disclosed,
still other embodiments
will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the above detailed
description, which shows
and describes the illustrative embodiments. As will be realized, these
embodiments are capable of
modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the
spirit and scope of the
present disclosure. Accordingly, the detailed description is to be regarded as
illustrative in nature
and not restrictive. Also, although not explicitly recited, one or more
additional embodiments may
be practiced in combination or conjunction with one another. Furthermore, the
reference or non-
reference to a particular embodiment shall not be interpreted to limit the
scope of protection. It is
intended that the scope of protection not be limited by this detailed
description, but by the claims
and the equivalents to the claims that are appended hereto.
[0049] Except as stated immediately above, nothing which has been stated or
illustrated is
intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedication of any component,
step, feature, object,
benefit, advantage, or equivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is
or is not recited in the
claims.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-10-18 11
