Toner End Mechanism - Ricoh M5 Service Manual

5. Toner End Mechanism

Sufficient Condition
Toner
Drive Spring
The toner end detection mechanism uses an actuator and a photointerruptor. When the toner tank is
full, the actuator stays in the photointerruptor.
grams of toner, the actuator leaves the photo interrupter one time for every revolution of the toner
mixing gear.
If there is sufficient toner in the toner tank, the toner resists the movement of the toner mixing plate
and the drive spring stretches.
do not align and the actuator roller stays on the surface of the toner mixing gear.
The figures on the right above show the toner end condition. In this case, the amount of toner in the
tank is insufficient to resist the movement of the toner mixing plate. The drive spring pulls the mix-
ing drive cam and aligns it with the toner mixing gear.
the spring pulls the roller
moment. As soon as the detent in the toner mixing gear moves, the actuator renters the toner end
sensor.
Toner End Sensor
Ill
As a result, the detent in the mixing drive cam and toner mixing gear
into the detent and the actuator goes out of the toner end sensor for a
Insufficient Condition
However, when the tank contains approximately 60
When the actuator roller comes to the detent,
3 - 3 7
25, 1985
May,