Estimated Toner Near End; Definite Toner Near End - Ricoh MP C3004 Field Service Manual

7. Detailed Descriptions

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 detection is
begun to determine the definite end. (When the toner residual amount is more than the
threshold value, determination by the toner end sensor is not performed).
Sensor detection
• The toner end sensor detects the sensor output every 200 ms while the polygon motor 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
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 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 saver mode, or
opening and closing the cover. If the toner end sensor 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).
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