Toner Cartridge Control Unit Additive Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for detecting the remaining amount of toner in toner cartridges are prone to errors due to variations in bulk density caused by external additives, leading to inaccurate estimation of toner supply based on motor rotations.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus incorporates a control unit that corrects the toner supply amount using external additive characteristic information, such as external additive coverage factor and adhesion intensity, to derive accurate remaining toner amounts by adjusting the supply counter correction coefficients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If toner supply amount is estimated based on motor rotation number, then detection simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to bulk density variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for toner supply estimation from a fixed motor rotation count to a corrected value that accounts for bulk density variations. By introducing a correction coefficient based on external additive characteristics, the system adjusts the supply counter value to reflect actual toner consumption more accurately, resolving the contradiction between simple detection and precise measurement.
2Measurement precision
If external additive characteristics are considered for correction, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing external additive characteristic information (such as bulk density data) in the toner cartridge or system memory before toner supply estimation is needed. This allows the correction coefficient to be readily available when calculating remaining toner amounts, improving measurement precision without requiring complex real-time measurements or additional hardware during operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If correction coefficient is applied based on external additive coverage, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by storing external additive characteristic information in the toner cartridge or system memory, creating a data copy that represents the physical properties of the toner. This allows the correction coefficient to be easily retrieved and applied during toner supply estimation without requiring complex manufacturing processes or additional hardware, thus improving manufacturing precision while maintaining ease of manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a supply unit and a control unit. The supply unit supplies a recording agent to a storage unit from a recording agent cartridge. The control unit is configured to at least one of (i) estimate a discharged amount of the recording agent discharged from the recording agent cartridge to form an image based on (a) a running amount of the supply unit used to form the image and (b) an additive characteristic of the additive added to the recording agent or (ii) estimate a supply amount to be discharged from the recording agent cartridge by the supply unit to form the image based on (a) the running amount of the supply unit necessary to form the image and (b) the additive characteristic of the additive added to the recording agent, and cause the supply unit to run based on the supply amount.