Toner Supply Device Estimating Consumption Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toner consumption prediction methods in image forming apparatuses are inaccurate due to variations in use environment, toner storage conditions, and component accuracy, leading to unreliable estimation of the remaining toner amount near empty.
Innovation Solution
A toner supply device comprising a toner container with a detector and a determiner that estimates the timing of complete toner consumption based on the driving amount applied during toner discharge, using a dual container configuration with different spiral shapes to accurately calculate remaining toner levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If toner consumption is predicted using coefficient of toner conveyance amount and conveyance screw rotation time, then toner remaining amount can be calculated, but accuracy deteriorates due to variations in use environment, storage conditions, and component accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The toner container is divided into a first container portion and a second container portion. The first portion is used for initial toner supply with a detector to establish baseline consumption characteristics, while the second portion provides remaining toner without detection. This segmentation allows the system to learn specific consumption patterns for each container, reducing sensitivity to environmental variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary toner supply operations using the first container portion before the main toner supply phase. During this preliminary phase, the detector measures actual toner consumption to establish container-specific coefficients. This preliminary action enables accurate prediction during the subsequent main supply phase from the second container portion.
2Reliability
If a detector is used to detect toner amount to be supplied, then toner supply can be monitored, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The toner container is divided into a first container portion and a second container portion. The detector is positioned to detect toner in the first container portion only, not the entire container. This segmentation reduces the detection scope and device complexity while maintaining sufficient monitoring capability for accurate consumption measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection function is extracted and applied only to the first container portion, separating the monitoring function from the entire toner supply system. This extraction allows reliable monitoring of toner consumption characteristics without requiring complex detection across the whole system, simplifying the overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A toner supply device includes a toner container, a detector, and a determiner. The toner container is configured to contain toner to be supplied to a developing device. The toner container is capable of discharging a prescribed amount of toner contained therein. The detector is configured to detect an amount of toner to be supplied to the developing device. The determiner is configured to estimate a timing at which toner remaining in the toner container is completely consumed, based on a driving amount applied for discharging toner from the toner container during a time period from when the prescribed amount of toner is discharged from the toner container until when the detector detects an amount of toner equal to the prescribed amount of toner.