Method and apparatus for waste toner determination
US5918085A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 11, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jun 29, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 11, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G21/12
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus to track toner waste and the level of waste toner in a toner waste receptacle. A sensor measures the amount of toner developed on a photoreceptive member. At regular intervals a signal representing this developed toner amount is sent to a machine controller. The machine controller coverts the developed toner amount into an amount of residual waste based on the machine transfer efficiency. This residual waste amount is tracked and a signal is generated for a user as the toner waste receptacle approaches capacity. At full capacity an end of life signal is generated and for preservation of machine components the machine shuts down until the waste container is replaced.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.