Waste Toner Collection Container Stirring Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, waste toner tends to accumulate at specific positions due to operational environment factors, leading to inefficient use of waste toner collection containers, as sensors detect accumulation even when there is still available space, resulting in unnecessary replacement notifications.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a control method that includes a waste toner collection container, a paddle motor, and a control unit that corrects toner replenishment count values using type-specific coefficients to determine when to rotate the stirring paddle, ensuring efficient waste toner distribution and preventing accumulation at detection points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the stirring paddle operates based on simple accumulation thresholds, then the control system is simple, but waste toner accumulates at specific positions causing false detection
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary distribution actions by rotating the stirring paddle at predetermined intervals regardless of sensor detection. This preliminary action prevents waste toner from reaching accumulation states that would trigger false positive detections, thereby improving measurement precision without significantly increasing control complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stirring paddle operates periodically at predetermined intervals rather than continuously or only upon detection. This periodic operation maintains waste toner distribution uniformity proactively, preventing accumulation at specific positions before it occurs, thus improving detection accuracy while keeping the control system relatively simple.
2Device complexity
If the sensor detects waste toner accumulation at a threshold level, then the detection system is simple, but it generates unnecessary replacement notifications when margin space remains
Solution Approach 1:
The stirring paddle performs preliminary distribution actions before waste toner reaches the sensor detection threshold. By proactively distributing waste toner uniformly, the system prevents accumulation at the sensor location, ensuring that future detections reflect true capacity limits rather than false accumulation, thereby improving notification reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses sensor detection feedback to adjust stirring paddle operation timing and duration. When the sensor approaches threshold levels, the control unit triggers additional stirring cycles to redistribute waste toner, preventing false positive detections and improving the accuracy of replacement notifications while maintaining simple detection hardware.
3Ease of operation
If waste toner is allowed to accumulate naturally, then no active management is needed, but the containing capacity is underutilized due to localized accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The stirring paddle operates periodically at predetermined intervals to redistribute waste toner uniformly throughout the container. This periodic action prevents localized accumulation, maximizing the effective use of container capacity while requiring minimal active management from operators, thus balancing ease of operation with efficient capacity utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The stirring paddle automatically redistributes waste toner without requiring manual intervention. This self-service mechanism prevents accumulation and maximizes container capacity utilization while maintaining ease of operation, as the system manages itself without user involvement.
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 approach allows for efficient collection and distribution of waste toner within the container, preventing unnecessary notifications and optimizing the use of space, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency of the waste toner collection system.
Implementation Method 1
a paddle motor (30) that rotates the stirring paddle (401)
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus of an embodiment includes an image forming unit, a waste toner collection container, a paddle motor, and a controller. The controller acquires a replenishment amount for each toner cartridge, when the image forming component is replenished with the toner from the plurality of toner cartridges, sets a coefficient for each replenishment amount of the toner cartridges, at least one of each set coefficient is different from the others, each of the replenishment amount is corrected by each coefficient, and drives the paddle motor according to a cumulative amount of each corrected replenishment amount.