Aster Releases Patented Dongle Gear Solution

Originally published at Aster Graphics.

Aster Graphics is the First with Full Range Dongle Solution; Awarded New U.S. Patent

Aster had announced that it is the first to provide a complete solution with the release of its newest design for dongle gear cartridges. With a user-friendly design, the cartridges are available for all Canon and HP dongle devices, including the popular 505A/X, 280A/X, 255A/X, 226A/X and 287A/X. The simplicity of the Aster innovation allows for a user-friendly experience and mimics the installation and removal of the OEM cartridges (U.S. Patent NO. 9,964,920).

The basis of Canon’s February lawsuit was the claim of infringement on several of Canon’s continuation patents, granted between August 2017 and January 2018. These continuation patents are related to the previous Canon complaint and ITC investigation 337-TA-918.

Canon’s original dongle patents protect the design movement as the “coupling member axis is inclined with respect to the drum axis.” And Canon’s continuation patents protect the design movement “between the first position and the second position in the direction of the OPC axis.”

In following Aster’s history of innovation, the new cartridge design does not incorporate any of Canon’s construction and does not infringe any of the asserted Canon patents. The coupling member on the Aster cartridge is fixed and does not incline or change distance.

The installation and removal of Aster’s new design cartridges are as easy as the OEM’s. By utilizing Aster patent technology (U.S. Patent NO. 9,964,920), the cartridge slides smoothly in and out of the printer and ensures a proper engagement with the drive gear. The result is a user-friendly experience with exceptional cartridge print output.