Toner Control - Konica Minolta Magicolor 3300 Service Manual

7.7 Toner Control

Whether the toner bottle is installed is detected by the toner bottle switch in PWBA CRUM READER, and
the presence of toner in the toner bottle is detected by the SENSOR NO TONER. These switches and
sensors are provided for respective colors, and detection is made for each color.
7.7.1 SENSOR NO TONER
The SENSOR NO TONER is provided for each color.
The SENSOR NO TONER is attached to the HOLDER ASSY TONER HBN, and it detects the presence of
toner dispensed by the Toner Motor from the toner bottle into the HOLDER ASSY TONER HBN.
Also, the SENSOR NO TONER could make a wrong detection if the toner sticks to the sensor surface. To
prevent this, the film attached in the vicinity of the Auger in the HOLDER ASSY TONER HBN cleans the
sensor surface when the toner is dispensed. This film rotates together with the Auger at the toner
dispensation to scrape the toner off the SENSOR NO TONER surface. However, the sensor may detect the
toner even if the toner is not present or may not detect the toner even if the toner is present, depending on
the film position when the Toner Motor stopped. This is avoided by the printer internal control.
7.7.2 Toner presence control
The control is outlined below.
1) Check timing
• When the power is turned on, or the front cover is opened and closed
• Printing
2) Output of "Toner Empty Warning"
Output "Toner Empty Warning" based on the counter on the PKG TCRU.
3) Output of "Toner Empty Error"
Output "Toner Empty Error" when the SENSOR NO TONER properly detects TONER EMPTY.
4) Reset of "Toner Empty Warning/Toner Empty Error"
When a new Toner Bottle is installed ("Toner Empty Error"not being generated), the machine executes
Toner Dispense for 1.7 seconds to detect Toner. If SENSOR NO TONER detects Toner Full on
checking "Toner Full"/"Uncontrolled Execution", "Toner Empty Warning/Toner Empty Error" will be
disabled.
However, the Unit inside still recognizes "Toner Empty" at this stage. The Unit recognizes "Toner Full"
when the SENSOR NO TONER has detected "Toner Full" more than three times consecutively by
executing Toner Dispense.
5) Outputting "Toner Tape not Removed Error"
When the new Toner Bottle is installed ("Toner Empty Error" not being generated), the machine
executes Toner Dispense for 1.7 seconds to detect Toner. If Toner Full is not detected, Toner Dispense
will be executed for 1.7 sec again 5 seconds later. If Toner Full is not detected after executing Toner
Dispense three times, and if Toner Bottle Dispense Time shows 0, "Tape not Removed Error" will be
output.
Chapter 6 Principles of Operation
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