Toner concentration control for an imaging system
US6175698A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 27, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jan 16, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 27, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/017
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to an imaging system, and more specifically, a method and apparatus for accurately predicting toner usage and hence toner dispensing requirements in an imaging system. The toner concentration control system maintains toner concentration in a developer structure, which is connected to a dispenser containing toner. The toner concentration control system includes a toner mass estimator providing a toner mass estimate of the toner mass in the developer structure to be applied to the photoreceptor; a feed forward dispense unit receiving the toner mass estimate and transmitting a feed forward dispense command based on the toner mass estimate; a toner concentration target adjusted by toner age, toner break-in and temperature in the developer structure; a feed back dispense unit receiving the adjusted toner concentration target and transmitting a feedback dispense command; and a total dispense unit receiving the feed forward dispense command and the feedback dispense command, and outputting total dispense command to the dispenser, which dispenses the toner to the developer structure in accordance with the total dispense command.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.