Toner Low Sensor - OKIDATA OF1000 Service Manual

Page: 64
Service Guide OF1000
Chapter 2 Principles of Operation

2.6.02 Toner Low Sensor

The toner well of the image drum cartridge contains a toner agitator. Whenever the image drum
rotates, the toner agitator attempts to turn. A spring clip in the bottom of the toner well (along with
the proper amount of toner) holds the agitator at the bottom of the well. However, when toner is
distributed unevenly or an insufficient amount of toner is in the well, the toner agitator will rotate.
Therefore, as long as the toner well contains an adequate supply of evenly distributed toner, the
toner agitator will not rotate.
The toner sensor lever has a magnet embedded in it. Whenever the toner agitator is positioned at
the bottom of the toner well, the toner sensor lever is magnetically attracted to the toner agitator.
This causes the toner sensor lever to be lifted from the path of the toner sensor.
During a low toner condition (less than 20 grams of toner remaining), the toner agitator will rotate
continuously. This causes the toner sensor to turn ON / OFF as the image drum rotates. The
operator panel will then display the TONER LOW message.
During an unevenly distributed toner condition, the toner agitator will rotate until the toner is
distributed sufficiently. This causes the toner sensor to turn ON / OFF for only a few image
drum rotations. The operator panel will not display an error message since this is normal printer
operation.
If the toner sensor remains in an ON condition, the operator panel will display the TONER SNS
message.
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