Lexmark International, Inc.

James Marion Nimmo

David Anthony Schneider

Benjamin Charles Devore

Delbert Lester Elliott

Christopher Kent Washing

Andrew Charles Hogan

Peyman Kermanshahi Nejad

A method of operating an imaging device is disclosed. The imaging device is designed to start the imaging process before picking a sheet. During a pick retry, the device waits to start the imaging process until after the sheet is picked successfully. This method improves pick reliability and reduces wasted toner. Other systems and methods are disclosed.

Methods for retrying pick in an image-before-pick system

A capacitive sensor for sensing amount of waste toner in a waste toner box of an imaging apparatus includes a capacitor that has a pair of separated plates disposed within the interior of the waste toner box. The capacitance of the capacitor changes with the amount of toner in between the plates of the capacitor. A sensor circuitry is connected to the plates of the waste toner box that measure the capacitance of the capacitor as a voltage value. This voltage value is provided to a controller that determines a relative change in the capacitance value by determining a change in capacitance of the capacitor with respect to a number of pages printed by the imaging apparatus. The controller then determines the state of the waste toner box based on this relative change in capacitance.

Capacitive sensor for sensing state of waste toner box in an imaging apparatus

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Georgetown, KY, United States of America

James Marion Nimmo