The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 22, 2009
Filed:
Aug. 22, 2007
John Parker Richey, Lexington, KY (US);
David Feinauer, Lexington, KY (US);
Mark Alan Stuart, Lexington, KY (US);
John Parker Richey, Lexington, KY (US);
David Feinauer, Lexington, KY (US);
Mark Alan Stuart, Lexington, KY (US);
Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, KY (US);
Abstract
A method and device for monitoring toner transfer within an image forming device is described herein. A reflectivity sensor senses movement of a toner transfer gear operatively connected to a toner transfer system. A threshold unit generates a dynamic threshold based on the output of the reflectivity sensor. In one embodiment, the threshold unit generates the dynamic threshold based on a time delayed average of the sensor output. An instantaneous sensor output is compared to the dynamic threshold. Based on the comparison, the device determines the how much the toner transfer gear has rotated, and therefore, how much toner has been transferred from the toner cartridge.