TONER SUPPLY WITH LEVEL SENSOR AND METER

A device and method for storing toner within an image forming apparatus having an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir. A sensor paddle is positioned within the lower reservoir for determining a toner level within the lower reservoir. The sensor paddle rotates within an angular displacement from a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors CAMPBELL, ALAN, STIRLING, SMITH, WILLIAM, DALE, GAYNE, JARRETT, CLARK
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
French
German
Published 25.08.2010
Subjects
CINEMATOGRAPHY
ELECTROGRAPHY
ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY
HOLOGRAPHY
MAGNETOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHYSICS
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Summary:A device and method for storing toner within an image forming apparatus having an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir. A sensor paddle is positioned within the lower reservoir for determining a toner level within the lower reservoir. The sensor paddle rotates within an angular displacement from a fall point to a toner rest point. The device and method further includes a drive gear for rotating the sensor paddle, and a cam mechanism positioned adjacent to the drive gear. The cam mechanism is connected to the sensor paddle and has a cam angular displacement relative to the drive gear about equal to the sensor paddle angular displacement. A pawl having at least one opening is mounted on at least one post extending axially outward from the drive gear and includes a boss positioned within the cam track. Upon a predetermined angular displacement of the sensor paddle, the boss moves along the cam track resulting in the pawl radially extending outward from the drive gear and contacting a toner supply mechanism for transferring toner from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir.
Bibliography:Application Number: EP20020725562