Image Forming Apparatus Waste Toner Detection and Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses with multiple waste toner containers, accurately displaying the state of a print job is challenging due to incorrect indication of the print job state when the display is controlled by referring to only one waste toner container, leading to misinformation about the actual print job status.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a first and second waste toner container with detection units and a light source control unit that controls a plurality of light sources based on the detection results, allowing for accurate indication of the print job state by switching the discharge destination of waste toner and adjusting lighting patterns to reflect the actual status of both containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the discharge destination of waste toner is switched between multiple containers, then productivity is improved by preventing interruptions during container replacement, but the accuracy of print job state indication deteriorates when only one container state is referenced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the waste toner storage function into multiple independent containers (first waste toner container and second waste toner container), each with its own detection unit. This allows the system to monitor and switch between containers independently, resolving the contradiction by enabling continuous operation while maintaining accurate state tracking through multi-container monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic switching of the waste toner discharge destination between multiple containers based on their real-time states. The light source control unit dynamically adjusts the indicated state by referencing different container states as needed, allowing the system to adapt to changing container conditions and maintain accurate print job state indication throughout continuous operation.
2Device complexity
If only one waste toner container state is referenced for light indication, then device complexity is reduced, but information accuracy deteriorates by providing misinformation about actual print job status
Solution Approach 1:
The light source control unit serves multiple functions: it monitors the state of multiple waste toner containers and provides accurate print job state indication by synthesizing information from all containers. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain simplicity while improving information accuracy through comprehensive container state monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where detection units continuously monitor waste toner container states and provide this information to the light source control unit. The control unit then adjusts the light indication based on this feedback, ensuring that the displayed print job state accurately reflects the actual system status by considering the states of all containers.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of light sources, a light source control unit that controls turning on and off of the plurality of light sources, a first detection unit that detects an accumulated amount of waste toner with respect to the total capacity of the first waste toner container, and a second detection unit that detects an accumulated amount of waste toner with respect to the total capacity of the second waste toner container. The light source control unit turns on one of the plurality of light sources, based on detection results of the first detection unit and the second detection unit.