Toner Level Detection Control - Konica Minolta BizHub C360 Service Manual

Theory of Operation Ver. 1.0 Jul. 2009
12.3.9

Toner level detection control

A. Toner near empty detection
• The toner near empty switch (magnetic type) provided for the toner hopper of each color
of toner is used to determine the amount of toner still available for use in the toner hop-
per.
• The actuator of the toner near empty switch is moved up and down by the cam mounted
coaxially with the toner agitating blade. A magnet is fixed to the actuator. The toner near
empty switch detects the vertical movement of the magnet.
• If the near empty counter is incremented by 4 or more during control of replenishing the
toner hopper with toner, the machine determines that the toner hopper is in a toner near
empty condition and enters the toner empty control.
• For details of the toner replenishing control, see "toner replenishing control".
Cam
(operatively connected
to toner agitating blade
shaft)
Toner agitating
blade shaft
(1) Toner near empty detection timing
• The toner replenishing control is started when the drive of the toner supply motor is
started.
• The output of the toner near empty switch is monitored for a predetermined period of
time. If the toner near empty switch is turned ON from the OFF state, during the prede-
termined period of time, the machine determines that the "toner hopper runs out of toner
(or there is only a small amount of toner left in the toner hopper)" and increments the
near empty counter by one.
• If the toner near empty switch remains OFF, the machine determines that "toner is still
available for use in the toner hopper", resetting the near empty counter to zero.
• If the near empty counter is incremented by 4 or more through the foregoing operations
repeatedly performed, the machine determines that the toner hopper is in a toner near
empty condition and gives the message "Replace toner cartridge" on the control panel.
(2) Toner near-empty display
• The warning screen to be displayed when a toner near-empty is detected can be enabled
or disabled in the "System 2/ Unit Change" in the Service Mode.
• When the warning screen display is set to "Yes", the message notifying the user that the
toner cartridge needs replacing soon is displayed. (Replace toner cartridge)
Printing can be continued even after the message appears (Default setting).
• When the warning screen display is set to No, the message notifying the user that the
toner cartridge needs replacing soon is not displayed. Printing can be continued without
having the message displayed.
12. TONER SUPPLY SECTION
Actuator
Magnet (fixed to actuator)
Toner near empty switch
(magnetic type)
Agitating blade
Toner conveying screw
A0EDT2C289DA
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