Photocopying – Contact printing – Light boxes
Patent
1994-09-02
1996-04-30
Moses, R. L.
Photocopying
Contact printing
Light boxes
355245, 355260, 118688, G03G 1506
Patent
active
055129803
ABSTRACT:
Disclosed are a toner empty detecting method of and a toner empty detecting apparatus for detecting an empty state of toners in a toner hopper. The toner empty detecting method comprises: a step of taking in the output of the detecting element with every constant period; a step of comparing a detected value relative to a take-in value with an average value of the detected values during a detection period of last time; a step of counting the number of times when the detected value is smaller than the average value during a detection cycle of this time; and a step of generating a toner empty output when the count value is larger than the predetermined value. The toner empty detecting apparatus comprises: a toner sensor for detecting the toners in the toner hopper; and a control circuit for comparing a detected value relative to a take-in value when taking in an output of the toner sensor with every constant period with an average value of the detected values during a detection period of last time, comparing the count value with a predetermined value and generating an empty output when the count value is larger than the predetermined value. Even if there is a scatter in output level of the toner detection sensor, the toner empty can be thereby stably detected.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4682874 (1987-07-01), Fantuzzo
patent: 4987449 (1991-01-01), Katoh
patent: 4989754 (1991-02-01), Grasso et al.
patent: 5142332 (1992-08-01), Osawa et al.
patent: 5204698 (1993-04-01), LeSueur et al.
patent: 5214475 (1993-05-01), Ishii et al.
patent: 5287151 (1994-02-01), Sugiyama
patent: 5331377 (1994-07-01), Matsuura et al.
patent: 5374977 (1994-12-01), Shiina et al.
Tooda Toshio
Yamaguchi Yoshio
Fujitsu Limited
Moses R. L.
LandOfFree
Method of and apparatus for detecting toner empty does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of and apparatus for detecting toner empty, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of and apparatus for detecting toner empty will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-632608