Soft cartridge package for a photoreceptor belt and method of manufacturing soft cartridge package including method of loading photoreceptor belt using soft cartridge package

摘要

A cartridge device for packaging an endless, organic photoreceptor belt of an electrophotographic printer. The cartridge device is a closed loop support structure manufactured of a resilient material around which the endless belt extends. The resilient support structure has a belt loading configuration, that substantially duplicates the configuration of the endless belt when the belt is mounted onto support rollers of the electrophotographic printer. By replicating the configuration of the support rollers, loading of the belt onto the rollers is facilitated using the cartridge device. The resilient support structure also has a compact configuration that requires less volume than the belt loading configuration. The compact configuration of the cartridge device minimizes shipping volume and storage space requirements for replacement photoreceptor belts. In both the belt loading configuration and the compact configuration, the cartridge device substantially protects the photoreceptor belt from inadvertent damage that would adversely affect the image reproduction quality of the replacement belt.