Determining an amount of toner in a reservoir by determining a t

Details Determining an amount of toner in a reservoir by determining a t Determining an amount of toner in a reservoir by determining a t

1998-07-20

1999-11-23

Grimley, Arthur T.

Electrophotography

Control of electrophotography process

Control of developing

399 27, 399256, G03G 1508

Patent

active

059915609

ABSTRACT:
A first embodiment of the system to detect the amount of toner includes a first and a second light pipe attached in a substantially parallel orientation from the top to the bottom of a sidewall in the toner reservoir. An infra-red light emitting diode illuminates the first light pipe. A rotatable auger has an attached first arm. A light bridge attached to the first arm is positioned so that during rotation of the auger, the light bridge moves adjacent to the first and the second light pipe as the light bridge moves from the top to the bottom of the toner reservoir. When the light bridge is outside of the toner and adjacent to the first and the second light pipe, light is transmitted between the first and the second light pipe. When the light bridge is inside of the toner, light transmission between the first and the second light pipe is interrupted. A circuit detects light transmitted from the second light pipe using a photodiode. The circuit determines the amount of toner remaining in the toner reservoir by measuring the time interval during which light is detected and using this measurement to perform an interpolation that determines the amount of toner remaining. Other embodiments of the system to detect the amount of toner include the use of an auger that transmits light between a single light pipe and the circuit, rotating belts for moving the light bridge, light polarizers to selectively prevent light transmission, and additional light pipes.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4155638 (1979-05-01), Blitzer
patent: 4392142 (1983-07-01), Searchman et al.
patent: 4767172 (1988-08-01), Nichols et al.
patent: 5499077 (1996-03-01), Endo et al.
patent: 5649264 (1997-07-01), Domon et al.

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