Lexmark International, Inc.

Raymond Jay Barry

Benjamin Keith Newman

Gregory Lawrence Ream

Earl Dawson Ward, Ii

Phillip Byron Wright

Steven Alan Curry

Jason Carl True

Michael Craig Leemhuis

James Anthany Carter, Ii

Gregory Alan Cavill

Gary Scott Overall

Steven Andrew Rice

Joshua Carl Poterjoy

Keisha Josephine Thomas

Adam Jude Ahne

Daniel Lee Carter

Michael David Maul

Christopher Dane Jones

Kerry Leland Embry

John Parker Richey

Curtis Ray Droege

Richard Gordon Boyatt, Iii

Johnny Ray Sears

Todd Alan Dutton

Paul Wesley Etter

William George Goff, Iii

Michael Wesley Baskette

Andrew Charles Hogan

Randall Steven Gall

Willliam P Cook

Niki J Murrell

Steven R Rehmel

A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned in the reservoir and has a rotational axis. A toner agitator is rotatably coupled to the rotatable shaft. A first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor are positioned on the housing. The first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor form a capacitor having a capacitance that changes in response to a change in an amount of toner in the reservoir between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. The first electrical conductor includes a rod positioned in the reservoir at the rotational axis of the rotatable shaft and extending along the rotational axis of the rotatable shaft.

Capacitive toner level sensor

A toner container including a first electrode disposed within the toner container, a second electrode electrically connected to the first electrode and disposed within the toner container, and a sense electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The sense electrode and the first electrode form a first capacitor having a first capacitance that changes in response to a change in toner amount existing therebetween. The sense electrode and the second electrode form a second capacitor having a second capacitance that changes in response to a change in toner amount existing therebetween.

A circuit and system for sensing a capacitance of a capacitive sensor disposed in a toner container of an electrophotographic imaging apparatus. The circuit and system may include an AC signal generator and conversion circuitry, coupled to the capacitive sensor, for detecting an AC current appearing on the capacitive sensor and converting the detected AC current to a substantially DC voltage, relative to a local ground, the local ground serving as a ground reference for the conversion circuitry. The AC signal generator is coupled between the local ground and a system ground. Physically separating the AC signal generator from the capacitive sensor allows for parts of the capacitive sensor to be used to perform other functions in the toner container.

Capacitive supply level sensing circuit and method

An electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes an optical emitter positioned to emit a light beam through a window into a reservoir holding toner toward a reflective surface in the reservoir as a paddle positioned within the reservoir rotates. An optical receiver is positioned to sense an amount of the light beam reflected by the reflective surface. At least one processor is configured to receive a signal related to the amount of light sensed by the optical receiver. The at least one processor includes computer executable program instructions including: instructions for calculating an average value for the signal for each of a plurality of sets of paddle revolutions, instructions for calculating a variation value for the signal for each of the plurality of sets of paddle revolutions, instructions for filtering each variation value to determine a plurality of short term variation values, instructions for monitoring whether at least one short term variation value exceeds a first threshold, and instructions for signaling that a toner level in the reservoir is low when the at least one short term variation value exceeds the first threshold.

Systems for detecting low toner in an electro-photographic toner cartridge

A method for detecting low toner in an electro-photographic toner cartridge having an optical sensor using a light beam to detect the presence or absence of toner in the cartridge includes transmitting to a processor a signal related to the strength of the light beam sensed as a paddle disposed within the cartridge rotates. The processor calculates an average value for the signal for each of a plurality of sets of paddle revolutions. The processor then calculates a variation value for the signal for each of the plurality of sets of paddle revolutions. The processor filters each variation value to determine a plurality of short term variation values. The processor monitors whether at least one short term variation value exceeds a first threshold. When the at least one short term variation value exceeds the first threshold, the processor signals that the toner level is low.

Method for detecting low toner in an electro-photographic toner cartridge

A capacitive sensor to detect toner volume levels in a toner container within an image forming device includes opposed electrodes disposed within the interior of the toner container. The opposed electrodes form a capacitor characterized by an inherent capacitance that varies in response to an amount of toner that exists between the opposed electrodes. A corresponding sensor circuit is electrically coupled to the opposed electrodes and adapted to sense an instantaneous capacitance of the capacitor to determine the amount of toner that exists between the opposed electrodes. The opposed electrodes may have different shapes and configurations, including for example, plates disposed within the toner container or the interior walls of the container itself. The sensor circuit is configured to apply an alternating current signal to the opposed electrodes and sense an output voltage that is indicative of an instantaneous capacitance of the capacitor corresponding to toner volume within the container.

Capacitive toner level sensor and methods of use

A media stack height sensor in an image forming apparatus with a flag arm that is in contact with a top surface a media stack. The arm is coupled to a flag characterized by varying transmissivity. The flag is moveable by the flag arm so that as the position of the arm changes in relation to the stack height, a different portion of the flag is positioned between a transmitter and receiver of an optical sensor disposed within the body of the image forming apparatus. The flag accordingly reduces the amount of optical energy received by the receiver. The receiver output signal indicates the height of the media stack. The flag also includes features that further limit light transmission to the receiver to provide discrete stack height indications such as low, empty, full, or intermediate states.

Media tray stack height sensor with continuous height feedback and discrete intermediate and limit states

An optical density sensor disposed over a target surface in an image formation apparatus comprises an integrating cavity having a diffuse, reflective interior surface and a view port formed therein. An optical source directs light through the view port onto the target surface, without striking any interior surface of the cavity. Light reflected from the target surface is detected by an optical detector disposed within the cavity. The optical source may be disposed in a collimator, which may extend into the interior of the cavity, and may include a lens. A circuit card which may include an optical detector sensing circuit may be disposed proximate the optical detector. A compensating slot formed in the cavity may allow some reflected light to directly impact the optical detector as the gap between the cavity and the target surface increases.

Optical density sensor

An apparatus for the management of the fluid level in a media coating system. In one embodiment, the apparatus has a supply item for the storage of a media coating fluid and an applicator having a trough for receiving the media coating fluid from the supply item. The apparatus utilizes a fluid level detection sensor that is located within the applicator to measure whether the media coating fluid level within the trough of the applicator is either above or below a threshold position and to generates an output signal. The apparatus has a controller for receiving the output signal and controlling delivery of the media coating fluid from the supply item to the applicator.

System and method of fluid level regulating for a media coating system

A media sensor for an image forming apparatus is operative to sense and distinguish opaque, transparent or no media in a media path. In one embodiment, an optical source and detector are positioned on opposite sides of the media path, at an acute, non-zero angle with respect to a direction normal to the media path. In other embodiments, an optical source and detector are co-located on the same side of the media path with an optical barrier between them, and one or more reflective surfaces positioned on the opposite side. With no media in the media path, the detector receives a readily detectable amount of optical energy emitted by the source. For opaque media, the detector receives very little, if any, optical energy emitted by the source. For transparent media, the detector receives a level of optical energy between that in the cases of opaque media and no media.

Combined paper and transparency sensor for an image forming apparatus

A method of determining a feed position of a print medium in an imaging apparatus includes an encoder device, connected to a feed shaft, that produces a first periodic signal and a second periodic signal approximately 90 degrees out of phase with the first. A modified first signal is created. A modified second signal is created. The modified first signal is added to the modified second signal to create a summation signal that has a plurality of local minimum values, a plurality of local maximum values, and a plurality of substantially linear segments. A periodic modified summation signal is created by adding a corresponding constant value to each linear segment. The feed position of the print medium is calculated based upon a number of cycles of the modified summation signal counted and a determined value of the modified summation signals.

High precision analog encoder system

Method is disclosed for determining characteristics of a toner cartridge. One aspect is directed to determining the characteristics associated with a quantity of toner in the cartridge, and thus, the method includes the steps directed to determining a home position of an encoded device relative to a code reader, determining a delay in rotational movement of the encoded device with respect to a rotational movement of a drive mechanism as an agitator moves through the toner, and translating the delay into an amount of toner remaining in the cartridge. Another aspect is directed to determining preselected cartridge characteristics from the encoded device, and thus, the method includes steps directed to rotating the encoded device, reading a coding of the encoded device, and decoding the coding to determine the preselected cartridge characteristic information represented by the coding. The method steps directed to these aspects of the method may be performed separately or in aggregate.

Method for determining characteristics of an electrophotographic

A cartridge for an electrophotographic machine having a sump for carrying an agitator rotatably mounted in the sump for engagement with a toner; an encoded device coupled to a first end of the agitator; and a torque sensitive coupling connected to a second end of the agitator which is connectable to a drive mechanism of the machine. The encoded device includes coding representing cartridge characteristic information.

Imaging apparatus cartridge including an encoded device

Disclosed is a cartridge having an encoder wheel thereon for encoding EP supply cartridge characteristic information for an electrophotographic machine, the cartridge comprising, a sump for carrying an initial amount of toner. A shaft is mounted for rotation in said sump, and an agitator or paddle is mounted thereon in such a manner that when the shaft rotates, the paddle rotates into, through and out of engagement with toner carried by the sump. A single encoder wheel is mounted on the shaft, external of the sump, the encoder wheel positioned for proximate mating coaction with a coded wheel reader when the cartridge is mounted in position in the electrophotographic machine. A drive means, and a variable torque flexible coupling connects the drive means to the shaft to effect rotation thereof. The encoder wheel is configured for indicating, in conjunction with said coded wheel reader, a component of resistance to paddle movement through the portion of said sump having toner therein to give an indication of the amount of toner remaining in said sump. Other portions of the wheel, in a portion thereof which confronts the reader during a substantially constant velocity of rotation thereof, carries additional characteristic information of the cartridge to permit proper operation of the machine as well as increased efficiency of operation thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, KY, United States of America

Raymond Jay Barry