Toner Detection Accuracy in Image Recording Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image recording apparatuses face inaccuracies in toner detection due to deviations in toner profile within the developer container, leading to premature or delayed initiation of toner supplying operations, which affects the accuracy of toner remaining and causes improper resumption of toner supplying.
Innovation Solution
An image recording apparatus with a developer supplying mechanism, a developer containing chamber, and a controller that uses a developer amount detecting mechanism to assess the toner level by comparing the detected period of an agitating member's bottom position with a threshold value, ensuring stable toner detection and controlled supplying operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the agitating member falls fast from the topmost position to the bottom position and remains at the bottom position for a longer time, then the detected period increases, but the toner is distributed not uniformly despite the remaining toner of a greater amount than a certain ideal value
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary agitation of the toner in the developer container before detecting the toner amount. This preliminary action ensures that the toner is uniformly distributed throughout the container, preventing inaccurate detection results that would occur if detection were performed immediately after refilling or without prior agitation. The controller waits for a predetermined period after refilling before initiating detection, allowing the toner to settle and distribute uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic detection cycles where the controller repeatedly measures the period during which the agitating member remains at the bottom position over multiple cycles. By averaging or analyzing multiple periodic measurements, the system obtains a more accurate and reliable toner amount detection that is not affected by temporary non-uniform distributions or random variations in the detection process.
2Speed
If the controller suspends the supplying operation immediately after confirming that the period is shorter than the threshold value, then the response speed increases, but the calculation accuracy is impaired due to deviations in toner profile
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary agitation of the toner in the developer container before detecting the toner amount. This preliminary action ensures that the toner is uniformly distributed throughout the container, preventing inaccurate detection results that would occur if detection were performed immediately after refilling or without prior agitation. The controller waits for a predetermined period after refilling before initiating detection, allowing the toner to settle and distribute uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple detection cycles to improve accuracy. The controller continuously monitors the period during which the agitating member remains at the bottom position and compares it against the threshold value. When the period consistently indicates low toner amounts across multiple detection cycles, the controller suspends the supplying operation. This feedback mechanism filters out false positives caused by temporary non-uniform distributions.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the period serving as the threshold value is set longer than needed to prevent premature suspension, then the detection stability improves, but the toner supplying operation is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary agitation of the toner in the developer container before detecting the toner amount. This preliminary action ensures that the toner is uniformly distributed throughout the container, preventing inaccurate detection results that would occur if detection were performed immediately after refilling or without prior agitation. The controller waits for a predetermined period after refilling before initiating detection, allowing the toner to settle and distribute uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a threshold value that is slightly more stringent than the absolute minimum required to trigger supply suspension. By setting the threshold to require consistently short periods across multiple detection cycles rather than suspending on a single measurement, the system avoids premature suspension while maintaining responsive toner supply management.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the accuracy of toner detection and prevents premature or improper resumption of toner supplying operations, maintaining stable toner levels within the developer container, thus improving the reliability of the image recording process.
Implementation Method 1
an agitating member which can rotate upon reception of pushing force from such an electric driving means rotating at prescribed rate and can rotatably fall without reception of driving force from the electric driving means down to a bottom position when reaching at a topmost position
Data Source
AI summary
This invention aims to provide an image recording apparatus capable of preventing deterioration in remaining toner detection accuracy and further to prevent toner from getting damages. To achieve the above described objects, the image recording apparatus according to this invention includes a developer supplying mechanism for supplying the developer from the developer container, a developer containing chamber for containing the developer supplied by the developer supplying mechanism, a developer amount detecting mechanism for detecting a developer amount inside the developer containing chamber, and a controller for controlling based on both a detected value detected with the developer amount detecting mechanism and a predetermined threshold value developer supplying operation using the developer supplying mechanism, in which the controller suspends the developer supplying operation using the developer supplying mechanism based on a shift in the detected values detected by the developer amount detecting mechanism in a state where the developer supplying mechanism supplies the developer.