In this machine, there are two types of toner near end status.
The detection conditions and detection operation for each status are shown in the following table.
Control overview
Status | Control panel message | Detection conditions |
|---|---|---|
Estimated Toner Near End SP3-101-001 to 004="2" | Control panel banner display: Check you have a print cartridge replacement (s). Current print cartridge can be used until the replacement alert. | If the residual amount in the toner cartridge falls below SP3-110-001 to 004 (Near End Thresh). The lesser of the "toner residual amount computed from the toner supply motor drive time" and the "toner residual amount computed from the pixel count" is taken as the toner residual amount. |
Definite Toner Near End SP3-101-001 to 004="1" | Control panel banner display: <Toner Cartridge is empty. Printing will be suspended soon. Replace the cartridge.> | If "the toner cartridge residual amount falls below specification" and "the toner end sensor (S18)(S19)(S20)(S21) in the sub-hopper has detected toner end" Remarks: When toner end is detected, to use up all the toner in the cartridge, the toner cartridge is rotated for 5 seconds (full use control). After full use control, when the device status has reached "Definite Near End," the toner cartridge does not rotate. |
Toner End | Control panel pop-up display (alert screen): <Toner has been depleted. Replace Toner Cartridge.> | Toner end is defined by the following conditions (1) or (2): (1) Determination by number of sheets and pixel count (After definite toner near the end, the count is begun). (2) Determination by Vt output (not related to Definite Toner Near End) |
Control details
Estimated Toner Near End
- The toner residual amount Z (SP3-102-021 to 024) is taken as the lesser of the toner residual amount Z1 computed from the toner supply motor drive time (SP3-102-001 to 004) and the toner residual amount Z2 computed from the pixel count (SP3-102-011 to 014).
- If the condition, toner residual amount Z (SP3-102-021 to 024) < near end residual amount threshold value (SP3-110-001 to 004) is satisfied, this is taken as the estimated toner near end.
Definite Toner Near End
Preconditions
- The toner residual amount Z (SP3-102-021 to 024) is taken as the lesser of the toner residual amount Z1 computed from the toner supply motor drive time (SP3-102-001 to 004) and the toner residual amount Z2 computed from the pixel count (SP3-102-011 to 014).
- If the condition, toner residual amount Z (SP3-102-021 to 024) < sensor near end residual amount threshold value (SP3-120-001 to 004) is satisfied, toner end sensor (S18)(S19)(S20)(S21) detection is begun to determine the definite end. (When the toner residual amount is more than the threshold value, determined by the toner end sensor (S18)(S19)(S20)(S21) is not performed).
Sensor detection
- The toner end sensor (S18)(S19)(S20)(S21) detects the sensor output every 200 ms while the polygon mirror motor (M27) is ON, and determines whether toner is present or not from the latest 10 counts.
- The determination result is stored in the "no toner counter (SP3-121-001 to 004)".
To prevent clearing due to erroneous detection, the counter is reset if the toner end sensor (S18)(S19)(S20)(S21) detects "toner remaining" 4 times in a row. - If the condition "no toner counter (SP3-121-001 to 004) > sensor near end determination threshold value (SP3-122-001 to 004) is satisfied, full use control which rotates the toner bottle for a certain time (SP3-163-001) is performed, and toner presence/absence determination by the toner end sensor (S18)(S19)(S20)(S21) is performed again.
- If no toner is detected after full use control determination, it is taken as definite toner near end.
Operation after definite toner near end
- After changing the status to definite toner near end, sheet counter and pixel counter increment is begun to detect toner end.
SP3-133-011 to 014 (TE Detect :Set Page Cnt:K, C, M, Y)
SP3-133-031 to 034 (TE Detect :Set Pxl Cnt:K, C, M, Y)
Recovery when the toner has almost run out
- The toner bottle operation is triggered when the machine starts printing immediately after switching the power off and then back on, recovering from the energy saving mode, or opening and closing the cover. If the toner end sensor (S18)(S19)(S20)(S21) detects "toner remaining", the toner bottle operation stops, and according to the ID chip data on the toner bottle SP3-101-001 to 004 (Toner Status :Disp) display "10" or "2" (estimated toner end).
The toner bottle stops if the sensor does not detect "toner remaining" after operating for 2 seconds.
Toner End
Pattern (1): Determination by paper sheet counter/pixel counter
The total sheet counter and pixel counter values after definite toner near end are compared with the threshold values.
If the following "(evaluation method A=TRUE) and (evaluation method B=TRUE) or (evaluation method C=TRUE)" is satisfied, it is determined as toner end.
Determination method A: Sheet counter (SP3-133-011 to 014) > Sheet counter threshold value (min)
Determination method B: Sheet counter (SP3-133-011 to 014) > Sheet counter threshold value (max)
Determination method C: Pixel counter (SP3-133-031 to 034) > Pixel counter threshold value
Pattern (2): Determination by Vt output
When the deviation between the TD sensor output value and TD sensor target value has become large, it is taken as toner end.
After definite toner end has been determined
The difference between the output of the TD sensor (Vt: SP3-210-001 to 004) and the target value of the TD sensor (Vtref: SP3-230-001 to 004) is computed as the delta Vt, and values of the delta Vt larger than the threshold value (SP3-131-001) are integrated as "sigma delta Vt" (SP3-132-001 to 004).
If the integration value of "sigma delta Vt" is larger than the threshold value (SP3-132-002), it is determined to be toner end.
Before definite toner near end is determined (bottle full or estimated toner near end)
The computation is done in the same way as for definite toner near end, but separate values for the delta Vt threshold value and "sigma-delta Vt" threshold value are used.
the delta Vt threshold value before NE: SP3-131-011
"sigma delta Vt" threshold value before NE: SP3-131-012