• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    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 sensitive electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode . The sensitive electrode and the first electrode form a first capacitor having a first capacitance that changes in response to a change in the amount of toner between them. The sensitive electrode and the second electrode form a second capacitor having a second capacitance that changes in response to a change in the amount of toner between them.
    公开号:BR112014016320B1
    申请号:R112014016320-0
    申请日:2012-12-28
    公开日:2021-03-09
    发明作者:Raymond James Barry；James Anthony Carter Ii；Gregory Alan Cavill；Michael Craig Leemhuis；Benjamin Keith Newman；Joshua Carl Poterjoy；Keisha Josephine Thomas；Jason Carl True
    申请人:Lexmark International, Inc；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED REQUESTS
    [001] None DECLARATION ON DEVELOPMENT OR RESEARCH SPONSORED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
    [002] None. REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, ETC
    [003] None. BACKGROUND 1. Description field
    [004] The present description generally refers to electrophotographic imaging devices such as a printer or multifunction device having the printing capability, and in particular to a toner level sensor in a toner container of the imaging device. Description of the Related Art
    [005] Imaging devices such as copiers, laser printers, fax machines and the like typically use one or more toner containers to maintain the toner supply used for imaging processes. In some imaging devices, a large supply of toner is provided in a reservoir in a toner cartridge that fits with a separate imaging unit. The imaging unit may include a reservoir that holds a smaller amount of toner, sufficient to ensure that the toner is properly supplied by a toner add-on roller and a developer roll to a photoconductive drum. When the toner inside the imaging unit reservoir is emptied due to printing operations, additional toner is transferred from the toner cartridge to the imaging unit reservoir.
    [006] To ensure satisfactory operation of the imaging unit to transfer toner, the level of toner in the imaging unit reservoir is maintained at an appropriate level. For example, if the imaging unit reservoir holds too many toners, the toner can accumulate in the imaging unit reservoir, leak out of the holes and eventually break other components located inside and outside the imaging unit. If the toner level in the imaging unit reservoir becomes too low, the toner adding roller may starve, causing a scraper blade from the imaging unit to form a film and damage the developer roller that will eventually impair the future performance of the imaging unit. imaging. As such, it is desirable to know the toner level in the imaging unit reservoir in order to effectively determine when to move toner from the toner cartridge into the imaging unit reservoir.
    [007] Some methods for determining the toner level in a container use estimates of toner usage and accumulation based on print counts and time. However, these methods may not be accurate due to the variability in factors such as the environment, age of the developer roller, toner correction sensing cycles, and toner transfer parameters.
    [008] Other known techniques for sensitizing or determining toner level include the use of electrical sensors that measure the driving force required to drive an agitator in a toner container, optical devices including mirrors and toner dust cleaners in a container, and other opto-electromechanical devices such as an indicator that moves with the toner level to trigger a sensor that activates only when the volume reaches a predetermined level. Unfortunately, the addition of mobile hardware increases the complexity of the component and opportunities for errors.
    [009] Another existing solution provides two parallel plates arranged inside a toner container to detect toner volume levels. The two parallel plates form a capacitor having a capacitance that varies with the amount of toner between the two parallel plates. This solution, however, may not provide a sufficiently accurate means of detecting toner levels in a toner container because of a lack of awareness of small changes in the toner level.
    [010] Based on the previous ones, there is a need to raise awareness of the toner level that is more sensitive to changes in the toner level inside a toner container, without substantially increasing manufacturing costs. SUMMARY
    [011] The modalities of this description provide a capacitive sensor to detect the toner level in a toner container. In one embodiment of the example, a toner container includes a first electrode disposed within the toner container, a second electrode electrically connected to the first electrode and disposed in the toner container opposite the first electrode, and a sensitive electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The sensitive electrode and the first electrode form a first capacitor having a first capacitance that changes in response to a change in the amount of toner that exists between them. The sensitive electrode and the second electrode form a second capacitor in parallel with the first capacitor and having a second capacitance that changes in response to a change in the amount of toner that exists between them.
    [012] In another embodiment of the example, a toner container includes at least one mechanism for handling the toner in the toner container and at least two electrodes arranged in the toner container. The at least two electrodes include a component of the at least one mechanism that handles the toner inside the toner container. The at least two electrodes form at least one capacitor having a capacitance that changes in response to a change in the amount of toner that exists between the at least two electrodes. The one of at least two electrodes having the component of at least one toner handling mechanism includes one of a chute to distribute the toner substantially evenly through the toner container and a scraper blade to remove and / or level a part of a toner layer on a toner container developer roll.
    [013] In another embodiment of the example, a toner container includes a plurality of electrodes disposed within the toner container. The electrodes form at least one capacitor having a capacitance that changes in response to a change in the amount of toner that exists between the plurality of electrodes. The plurality of electrodes includes at least a first electrode and a second electrode. The at least one first electrode at least partially surrounds the second electrode in order to provide electrical shielding to it. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    [014] The advantages and other characteristics mentioned above of the described modalities, and the way to achieve them, will become more evident and will be better understood in reference to the following description of the modalities described together with the accompanying drawings, being that:
    [015] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example imaging system using the imaging unit of the present description;
    [016] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an imaging unit and toner cartridge in Figure 1 according to an example embodiment;
    [017] Figure 3 is the profile view of the development unit of the imaging unit in Figure 2 according to one example modality;
    [018] Figures 4A-4C illustrate the modalities of the example of a sensitive plate for the development unit of Figure 3;
    [019] Figures 5A-5C illustrate the modalities of the example of a toner shaker for the development unit of Figure 3; and
    [020] Figure 6 is the profile view of a unit that develops the imaging unit in Figure 2 according to another modality of the example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
    [021] It should be understood that the present description is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangement of the components presented in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present description is capable of other modalities and can be practiced or performed in several ways. It should also be understood that the phraseology and terminology used here are for the purpose of description and should not be considered as limiting. The use of "including", "comprising", or "having" and variations thereof, is intended to cover the items listed below and their equivalents as well as additional items. Unless otherwise limited, the terms "connected", "coupled", and "assembled", and variations thereof, are used widely here and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and assemblies. In addition, the terms "connected" and "coupled" and variations thereof are not restricted to couplings or physical or mechanical connections.
    [022] Terms such as "first", "second", and the like, are used to describe various elements, regions, sections, etc. and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the terms "one" and "one" here do not mean a quantity limitation, however, they preferably mean the presence of at least one of the items referenced.
    [023] In addition, and as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify the modalities of the description and what other alternative configurations are possible.
    [024] Reference will now be made in detail to the modalities of the example, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used in all drawings to refer to the same or similar parts.
    [025] In Figure 1, there is shown in this aspect a diagrammatic description of an imaging system 20 incorporating the present description. As shown, the imaging system 20 can include an imaging mechanism 22 and a computer 24. Imaging mechanism 22 communicates with computer 24 via a communications link 26. As used here, the term "communications link" it is used to generally refer to any structure that facilitates electronic communication between multiple components, and can operate using wired or wireless technology and can include Internet communications.
    [026] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the imaging mechanism 22 is shown as a multifunction machine that includes a controller 28, a printing mechanism 30, a laser scanning unit (LSU) 31, an imaging unit 32 , a developer unit 34, a toner cartridge 35, a user interface 36, a media feed system 38 and media input tray 39, and a scanner system 40. Imaging mechanism 22 can communicate with the computer 24 using a standard communication protocol, such as, for example, universal serial bus (USB), Ethernet or IEEE 802. xx. A multifunction machine is also sometimes referred to in the art as an all in one unit (AIO). Those skilled in the art will recognize that the imaging mechanism 22 can be, for example, an electrophotographic copier / printer including an integrated scanner system 40 or an independent scanner system 40.
    [027] Controller 28 includes a processor unit and associated memory 29, and can be implemented as one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). Memory 29 can be any volatile and / or non-volatile memory such as, for example, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory and / or non-volatile RAM (NVRAM). Alternatively, memory 29 may be in the form of a separate electronic memory (for example, RAM, ROM, and / or NVRAM), a hard disk, a CD or DVD disk, or any convenient memory device for use with the controller 28. Controller 28 can be, for example, a combined scanner and printer driver.
    [028] In the present embodiment, the controller 28 communicates with the printing mechanism 30 through a communications link 50. The controller 28 communicates with the imaging unit 32 and processing circuit 44 on it through a communications link 51 Controller 28 communicates with toner cartridge 35 and processing circuit 45 on it via a communications link 52. Controller 28 communicates with media feed system 38 via communications link 53.
    [029] Controller 28 communicates with scanner system 40 via communications link 54. User interface 36 is communicatively coupled to controller 28 via communications link 55. Process circuit 44, 45 can provide authentication functions, security and operational locks, operational parameters and usage information related to the imaging unit 32 and toner cartridge 35, respectively. The controller 28 serves to process the printing data and to operate the printing mechanism 30 during printing, as well as to operate the scanner system 40 and to process the data obtained through the scanner system 40.
    [030] Computer 24, which may be optional, may be, for example, a personal computer, electronic tablet, smartphone or other portable electronic device, including memory 60, such as volatile and / or non-volatile memory, an input device 62, such such as a keyboard or numeric keypad, and a display monitor 64. Computer 24 also includes a processor, input / output (I / O) interfaces, and can include at least one mass data storage device , such as a hard disk, CD-ROM and / or DVD drive (not shown).
    [031] Computer 24 includes in its memory a software program including instructions for the program that functions as an imaging unit 66, for example, printer / scanner unit software, for imaging mechanism 22. Imaging unit 66 is in communication with imaging engine controller 22 via communications link 26. Imaging unit 66 facilitates communication between imaging engine 22 and computer 24. One aspect of imaging unit 66 can be, for example, to providing the formatted print data to the imaging mechanism 22, and more particularly, the printing mechanism 30, to print an image. Another aspect of the imaging unit 66 may be, for example, to facilitate the collection of scanned data.
    [032] In some circumstances, it may be desirable to operate imaging mechanism 22 in an independent mode. In stand-alone mode, imaging mechanism 22 is able to function without computer 24. Consequently, all or part of imaging unit 66, or a similar unit, may be located on imaging mechanism controller 28 to accommodate the functionality of printing or scanning when operating in standalone mode.
    [033] The printing mechanism 30 may include the laser scanning unit (LSU) 31, imaging unit 32, and a fuser 37, all mounted on the imaging mechanism 22. Imaging unit 32 also includes a cleaning unit 33 housing a waste toner removal system and a photoconductive drum and developer unit 34 which is removably mounted on the printing mechanism 30 of the imaging mechanism 32. In one embodiment, the cleaning unit 33 and developer unit 34 are assembled of the joints and installed on a frame of the imaging unit 32. The toner cartridge 35 is then installed on or in proximity to the frame in a bonding relationship with the developer unit 34. The laser scanning unit 31 creates a latent image on the photoconductive drum in the cleaning unit 33. The developer unit 34 has a toner reservoir containing the toner that is transferred to the latent image in the photoconductive drum to create a toned image. The weakened image is subsequently transferred to a sheet of media received in the imaging unit 32 of the media input tray 39 for printing. Toner remains are removed from the photoconductive drum by the waste toner removal system. The toner image is attached to the media sheet in the fuser 37 and then sent to an exit location or to one or more finishing options such as a duplexer, stapler or hole punch.
    [034] Referring now to Figure 2, an example embodiment of the imaging unit 32 is shown. Imaging unit 32, as illustrated, includes developer unit 34, cleaning unit 33 and frame 200. Developer unit 34 and cleaning unit 33 are mounted on or otherwise attached to structure 200. Imaging unit 32 without toner cartridge 35 it is initially slidably received in the imaging mechanism 22. The toner cartridge 35 is then slidably inserted along the frame unit 200 until it is operationally coupled to the developer unit 34. This arrangement allows the 35 toner cartridge is separately removed and easily reinserted when replacing an empty toner cartridge or during media jam removal. The developer unit 34, cleaning unit 33 and frame 200 can also be easily slidably removed and reinserted as a single unit when required. However, this would normally occur less frequently than removing and reinserting the toner cartridge 35.
    [035] As mentioned, the toner cartridge 35 removably matches the developer unit 34 of the imaging unit 32. An outlet hole (not shown) in the toner cartridge 35 communicates with an entry hole 205 in the developer unit 34 allowing the toner to be periodically transferred from the toner cartridge 35 to refill the toner reservoir in the developer unit 34.
    [036] Referring now to Figure 3, an example embodiment of developer unit 34 is shown. The developer unit 34 includes a housing 303 that closes a toner reservoir 305 sized to hold a quantity of the toner. A developer roll 307, a scraper blade 309, and a toner add roller 311 can be mounted in the toner reservoir 305. The toner add roller 311 moves the supplied toner from the toner cartridge 35 to the developer roll 307 at the same time. that the scraper blade 309 provides a uniform layer, with a toner dosimeter on the developer roller 307. A rotating auger 315 and chute 321 can be arranged along one side of the toner reservoir 305 near the toner inlet 205 in order to distribute the incoming toner substantially evenly through the 305 toner reservoir. A rotating toner paddle or 323 toner shaker having one or more blades 324 can be positioned to shake and move the toner in the 305 toner reservoir to present itself to the add roller toner 311 and developer roller 307. In shaking and moving the toner, the rotation of the toner shaker 323 prevents the toner particles from forming large lumps in the toner reservoir 305.
    [037] The toner inlet hole 205 in housing 303 aligns with the outlet hole of toner cartridge 35 when toner cartridge 35 is installed along frame 200 and combined with developer unit 34. In a form of For example, the 205 toner inlet hole may be larger in the area than the toner cartridge 35 exit hole.
    [038] According to the example modalities of the present description, a toner level sensor can be positioned inside the 305 toner reservoir to allow substantially continuous monitoring of the toner level in it. The toner level sensor can be implemented as a capacitive sensor. A capacitive toner level sensor serves to provide an indication of the relative toner levels contained therein. In one example embodiment, a three-plate capacitive toner level sensor is used. In particular, a first electrode is arranged in a largely central region of the 305 toner reservoir, covering laterally through the 305 toner reservoir. Two second electrodes are arranged along opposite sides of the 305 toner reservoir so that the first electrode is centrally will be positioned between the two second electrodes. The three electrodes of the three capacitive sensor plates, with the second two plates being electrically connected together. In this way, the three plates form two capacitors connected in parallel. In the example embodiment, the first electrode can serve as a sensitive plate to sensitize a capacitance value, indicating the toner level in the 305 toner reservoir, and the two second electrodes can be driven by a voltage during a capacitive sensitization operation. A capacitive three-plate sensor advantageously provides improved performance and enhanced sensitivity, as explained in greater detail below.
    [039] In addition, the capacitive toner level sensor can be implemented using the existing components of the developer unit 34. For example, the capacitive sensor can use the mechanisms used in handling or otherwise controlling the movement or position of the toner inside of the 305 toner reservoir. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, one of the second electrodes of the capacitive sensor can be implemented using the trough 321 and the back plate 322 which is arranged along a side wall of the 305 toner reservoir and which can be formed with the 321 gutter of a single sheet of metal. In addition, one second of one of the second capacitive sensor electrodes can be implemented using an electrically conductive scraper blade 309, which is arranged along a side wall of the 305 toner reservoir opposite the side wall having the back plate 322. In this arrangement, the first electrode or sensitive plate 325 can be arranged between the combination of trough 321 and back plate 322 and the scraper blade 309. The sensitive plate 325 can be arranged adjacent to the toner shaker 323 and can have one or more slits formed through a body on it to allow the blades 324 of the toner shaker 323 to pass through when being rotated. The rail 321, the back plate 322 and the scraper blade 309 can be electrically coupled to each other and actuated by a common signal source, such as an AC voltage signal source. In the alternative, the rail 321 and the back plate 322 can be electrically isolated from the scraper blade 309 and driven by separate voltage signal sources. As mentioned, the sensitive plate 325 can be used to sense or measure the signals indicative of the toner level.
    [040] The sensitive plate 325 can have different shapes as shown, for example, in Figures 4A-4C. In Figure 4A, the sensitive plate 325A is formed in the form of a comb structure having fingers 405A that extend from a part of the elongated plate 410A with adjacent fingers 405A separated by a distance forming slits 415A. In Figure 4B, a modified structured sensitive comb plate 325B having substantially inverted T-shaped fingers 405B is shown. Such a design can be used to increase the surface area of the sensitive plate 325. The sensitive plate 325 can also include parts of the plate located in different positions to detect specific levels of toner. For example, as shown in Figure 4C, sensitive plate 325C can include a first part of plate 435 and a second part of plate 440 positioned above the first part of plate 435. The first part of plate 435 and the second part of plate 440 can be electrically coupled to each other via connection members 445. In such a design, the sensitive plate 325C may be able to feel the toner positioned closest to the toner-adding roller 311 as illustrated, for example, in Figure 6 showing a view in profile of the development unit 34 according to another modality of the example. In general, the sensitive plate 325 C can include multiple parts of the plate with each part of the plate arranged in a position corresponding to a location of maximum capacitive change. Any type of conductive material can then be used to interconnect the multiple parts of the board. It is also contemplated that other molds or shapes, including curved, cylindrical, coaxial, and other shapes as would occur for those skilled in the art, can be implemented for the sensitive plate 325.
    [041] For the blades 324 of the toner shaker 323 to be able to pass through the sensitive plate 325, the blades 324 may require shapes that fit in the slits 415 formed between the adjacent fingers 405 of the corresponding sensitive plate 325 at the same time. provides an effective means of moving toner and / or preventing toner from accumulating or clogging in the 305 toner hopper.
    [042] Figures 5A-5C show the example modalities of the toner shaker structures that can be used with the sensitive plate designs shown in Figures 4A-4C. Figure 5A illustrates the toner agitator 323 A having a drive shaft 503 A and a plurality of axially spaced blades 324A extending radially outwardly from the drive shaft 503A. The axial spacing between adjacent blades 324A allows blades 324A to pass through slits 415A without being interfered by the fingers 405A of sensitive plate 325 A. In Figure 5B, each blade 324B of a 323B toner shaker is shaped to form a substantially structure T-shaped to adapt to the shape of the slits 415B of the sensitive plate 325B shown in Figure 4B. Each blade 324B includes a connecting rod 507 that extends radially outwardly from the drive shaft 503B and a breaker rod 509 extending from the connecting bar 507 in substantially parallel orientation with the driving shaft 503B. Connection bars 507 and breaker bars 509 can have cross-shaped cross sections and a number of edges that can assist in distant fragmentation and conduction through sedimented and / or compacted toner in the 305 toner reservoir. Figure 5C shows the agitator of toner 323C comprised of a plurality of blades and blades 324C extending radially from the drive shaft 503C and disposed in a substantially helical relationship along the drive shaft 503C with substantially no axial distance between adjacent blades 324C. Such a toner stirrer design can be used in conjunction with the sensitive plate 325 in Figure 4C as shown, for example, in Figure 6. In other alternative embodiments, the toner stirrer 323 can be positioned to be sufficiently spaced from the sensitive plate 325 such that the blades 324 do not contact the sensitive plate 325 when rotated to avoid the need for sensitive plate slits. It will be recognized that the blades 324 can be of various other geometric shapes such as, for example, substantially cylindrical, rectangular, triangular, conical, etc., and can be of different lengths and / or dimensions, or angular orientation with respect to each other. or relative to the drive shaft 503. It will be appreciated that other combinations of sensitive plate 325 and toner shaker 323, and their arrangement relative to each other, can be implemented.
    [043] Regardless of the shape of the sensitive plate 325, two capacitors are formed inside the toner reservoir 305 in the example shown in Figure 3. With the sensitive plate 325 acting as a common electrode, a first capacitor is formed between the sensitive plate 325 and the trough combination 321 and the back plate 322, and a second capacitor is formed between the sensitive plate 325 and the scraper blade 309. The first and second capacitors can be characterized by inherent capacitances C1 and C2, respectively, which can vary in response to the amounts of toner between the corresponding electrodes of the two capacitors. When the toner level inside the 305 toner reservoir increases, the toner displaces air or gas between the respective electrodes of the first and second capacitors. The dielectric constant of the toner is generally different from the dielectric constant of the air. Thus, changes in the capacitance values C1 and C2 occur due to a change in the dielectric constant of the substance composite between the respective electrodes of the two capacitors.
    [044] Generally, the capacitance ratio for a two-plate capacitor can be approximated by a capacitor with two closely spaced parallel plates, which can be expressed by.

    [045] where C is the peak capacitanceFarads, K is the relative dielectric constant of the material filling the space between the two electrodes in Farads per meter, A is the overlap area between the two electrodes in square meters, and D is the distance between the two electrodes in meters. The dielectric constant K is a numerical value that refers to the material's ability, between the electrodes, to store an electrostatic charge. According to the above equation, if a larger dielectric material replaces a smaller dielectric material, the total capacitance increases. In addition, an increase in electrode area A and / or a decrease in separation distance D each will produce an increase in capacitance.
    [046] By positioning the sensitive plate 325 between the scraper blade 309 and the combination of the rail 321 and the rear plate 322, the surface area of the sensitive plate 325 is maximized with each of the first and second capacitors using a surface area side of sensitive plate 325. At the same time, the separation distance between sensitive plate 325 and driven plates (rail 321 / back plate 322 and scraper blade 309) is halved.
    [047] In addition, the first and second capacitors can be represented as two capacitors connected in parallel when incorporated in the form of a circuit. As a result, the total capacitance is the sum of the capacitances C1 and C2 of the first and second capacitors, respectively. Consequently, due to the increased surface area, decreased separation distance, and parallel circuit equivalence of the two capacitors, the resulting capacitance and / or capacitance variation that can be obtained by the three-plate capacitive level sensor is increased compared with a standard two-plate capacitor design.
    [048] Furthermore, the positioning of the sensitive plate 325 in the middle part of the toner reservoir 305 between the rail 321, rear plate 322 and scraper blade 309 provides the sensitive plate 325 with a sufficient amount of shielding that can reduce and / or block the electrical interference, electromagnetic interference or other noise from other external sources. The shielding can make the signals felt or measured on the sensitive plate 325 less susceptible to other signals, such as AC voltages, used to operate devices or components surrounding inside or outside the imaging mechanism 22, thereby advantageously allowing the sensor capacitive three-plate toner level perform their functions with a higher degree of accuracy.
    [049] The sensitive plate 325 can be electrically coupled to a sensitization circuit (not shown) to receive electrical signals that appear on the sensitive plate 325 and determining the instantaneous capacitance of the first and second capacitors. Such a circuit can be located in the imaging unit 32, printing mechanism 30, controller 28 or some or all of these. Once the resulting capacitance of the first and second capacitors is determined, the amount of toner that exists in the 305 toner reservoir can be determined using, for example, correlation data. Due to increased capacitance readings and / or increased capacitance variation, the highest sensitivity to small changes in the toner level and the highest resolution of the toner measurement can be obtained.
    [050] In another embodiment of the example, a capacitive toner level sensor in the toner reservoir 305 can be implemented using only the scraper blade 309 and the combination of chute 321 and back plate 322 without sensitive plate 325. For example, trough combination 321 / back plate 322 can be used as a conductive electrode to be driven by a signal source while the scraper blade 309 can be used to sense or measure the indicative signs of toner level, or vice versa . The combination of rail 321 / back plate 322 and scraper blade 309 can form a capacitor characterized by an inherent capacitance that varies in response to the amount of toner that exists between them. In one embodiment, the combination of rail 321 / back plate 322 or scraper blade 309 can be electrically coupled to the sensitization circuit mentioned above to detect the capacitor's instantaneous capacitance and determine the amount of toner that exists between the two conductive plates . Although the sensitivity of such a design may be less compared to that of the three-plate design, the design takes advantage of components existing within the 305 toner reservoir by combining the sensor and toner control functions of the existing components.
    [051] It is understood that another electrically conductive mechanism or component in the 305 toner reservoir can be used as at least a part of at least one conductive electrode of the capacitive toner level sensor. For example, the toner shaker can alternatively be used as a sensitive plate instead of or in addition to the sensitive plate 325. In another embodiment of the example, a drive plate can be attached to and / or made part of the blade assembly scraper 309, such as a support 601 mounting the scraper blade 309 (Figure 6). In yet another embodiment of the example, additional plates or conductive materials can be incorporated into the 305 toner reservoir for use as conductive plates for the capacitive sensor. For example, a drive plate 603 can be positioned in front of and isolated from the scraper blade 309 by an insulating material 605. Alternatively, a separate drive plate 604 can be positioned behind the scraper blade 309, such as behind the support 601 or between scraper blade 309 and support 601 (not shown). In another embodiment of the examples, the internal and external walls of the 305 toner reservoir can be aligned or molded with the electrically conductive material for use as conductive plates of the capacitive sensor. It will be appreciated that other driver plate arrangements and / or locations may be used.
    [052] In another embodiment of the example, more than three plates can be used as conductive electrodes for the capacitive toner level sensor in the 305 toner reservoir. In one embodiment, additional electrodes can be positioned within a central part of the reservoir. toner 305 in addition to the sensitive plate 325. The additional conductive plates / electrodes or components in the 305 toner reservoir can be used as drive plates in addition to the rail 321 / back plate 322 and the scraper blade 309. Each adjacent electrode can form a capacitor exhibiting a capacitance that varies depending on the amount of toner between the electrodes. In an example embodiment, alternative plates / electrodes can be connected to the two separate terminals. For example, a first set of electrodes can be electrically coupled to a first terminal that is driven by a signal source while a second set of electrodes alternating with the first set of electrodes can be coupled to one or more second terminals and used as sensitive electrodes. The second terminals can then be electrically coupled to the sensitization circuit to detect the instantaneous capacitances of the multi-plate capacitor. It will be appreciated that several capacitor plates are increased, the capacitance of the total sensor is also increased due to an additional increase in the surface area and a decrease in the separation distance between the adjacent electrodes. Consequently, a capacitive sensor using multiple plates can produce significantly higher sensitivity and higher resolution in a small container volume than does a standard two-plate capacitive sensor design.
    [053] The description of the details of the example modalities has been described in the context of the toner reservoir. However, it will be appreciated that the teachings and concepts provided here are applicable to other toner containers as well.
    [054] The foregoing description of various methods and one embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms and / or steps described, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the claims attached to it.
    权利要求:
    Claims (10)
    [0001]
    1. Toner container (35), comprising: a first electrode (321,322) disposed within the toner container; a second electrode (309, 603) electrically connected to the first electrode and disposed within the toner container opposite the first electrode; and a sensitive electrode (325) disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the sensitive electrode and the first electrode forming a first capacitor having a first capacitance (C1) that changes in response to a change in the amount of toner between them, and the sensitive electrode and the second electrode forming a second capacitor having a second capacitance (C2) that changes in response to a change in the amount of toner between them, in which the first capacitor is formed by the first electrode and a first surface area side of the sensitive electrode (325) and the second capacitor is formed by the second electrode and a second area of the lateral surface of the sensitive electrode, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the toner container (35) further comprises a roller (307), in which the The second electrode includes a scraper blade (309) positioned in close proximity to the roller to remove or level a portion of a toner layer on the roller.
    [0002]
    2. Toner container according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the first electrode includes a track (321) positioned along one side of the container to distribute toner evenly across the toner container.
    [0003]
    3. Toner container, according to any one of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the sensitive electrode (325) includes a comb-shaped structure (325A) having one or more slits (415A) formed through a body of the same.
    [0004]
    4. Toner container, according to claim 3, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it further comprises a mobile agitator (323) disposed adjacent to the sensitive electrode (325) and having one or more blades (324), in which movement of the mobile agitator causes one or more blades to pass through one or more slits (415A) of the sensitive electrode.
    [0005]
    5. Toner container, according to claim 1 or 2, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the sensitive electrode (325) includes a first plate part (435) and a second plate part (440) positioned above the first part of he scores.
    [0006]
    6. Toner container, according to any of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that at least a part of each of the first electrode (321, 322), the second electrode (309, 603) and the sensitive electrode ( 325) extend parallel to each other.
    [0007]
    7. Toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the sensitive electrode (325A, 325B) has a plate part (410A) and a plurality of finger members (405A, 405B) extending from it.
    [0008]
    8. Toner container, according to claim 7, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it further comprises a mobile agitator (323) disposed adjacent to the sensitive electrode (325) and having one or more blades (324), in which movement of the mobile agitator causes one or more blades to pass between the plurality of fingers (405, 405B) of the sensitive electrode.
    [0009]
    9. Toner container according to claim 7 or 8, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that at least one of the plurality of fingers (405B) has an inverted T shape.
    [0010]
    10. Toner container, according to any one of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it further comprises at least one mechanism for controlling a position of toner inside the toner container, in which at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a component of the at least one mechanism.
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    US9910382B1|2018-03-06|Capacitive toner level sensor
    US10466617B2|2019-11-05|Capacitive toner level sensor
    US10338518B2|2019-07-02|Redundant electrical contact between a fastener and a component
    CA3004256C|2022-02-01|Replaceable unit for an image forming device having magnets of varying angular offset for toner level sensing
    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    AU2012362321A1|2014-07-03|
    HK1203638A1|2015-10-30|
    CA2858617C|2019-01-15|
    CA2858617A1|2013-07-04|
    AU2012362321B2|2015-04-16|
    US8718496B2|2014-05-06|
    WO2013102037A1|2013-07-04|
    US20150301474A1|2015-10-22|
    CN106707707B|2020-06-05|
    CN104011603B|2017-03-15|
    US20160154337A9|2016-06-02|
    BR112014016320A2|2017-06-13|
    EP2798410A4|2015-07-29|
    EP2798410B1|2018-08-01|
    IN2014DN05925A|2015-06-12|
    MX337402B|2016-03-01|
    US20130170847A1|2013-07-04|
    EP2798410A1|2014-11-05|
    CN106707707A|2017-05-24|
    US9395645B2|2016-07-19|
    MX2014007712A|2015-03-03|
    CN104011603A|2014-08-27|
    CN110727189A|2020-01-24|
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    法律状态:
    2019-05-14| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according art. 34 industrial property law|
    2019-11-05| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: suspension of the patent application procedure|
    2021-02-02| B09A| Decision: intention to grant|
    2021-03-09| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 28/12/2012, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    US13/340.789|2011-12-30|
    US13/340,789|US8718496B2|2011-12-30|2011-12-30|Capacitive toner level sensor|
    PCT/US2012/072009|WO2013102037A1|2011-12-30|2012-12-28|Capacitive toner level sensor|
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