Toner level sensing using toner container vibration

A toner container for an electrophotographic image forming device, comprising:

• a housing having a reservoir for storing toner, the housing has an engagement surface for receiving an impulse force from an impact member of the image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device;
• a sensor positioned on the housing and configured to sense vibration of the housing upon the housing receiving the impulse force from the impact member of the image forming device, the sensed vibration of the housing being indicative of an amount of toner in the reservoir;
• and
• an electrical contact electrically connected to the sensor and positioned on the housing, the electrical contact is positioned to engage a corresponding electrical contact of the image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device to allow the sensor to transmit an electrical signal corresponding to the sensed vibration to processing circuitry of the image forming device upon the housing receiving the impulse force from the impact member of the image forming device,
• wherein the sensor is positioned at a first side of the housing and the engagement surface is positioned at a second side of the housing, the first side of the housing and the second side of the housing are positioned at opposite ends of the reservoir.

A method for estimating an amount of toner in a toner reservoir of a toner container of an electrophotographic image forming device, comprising:

• selectively generating an impulse force to cause vibration of the toner container;
• sensing, by a sensor, the vibration of the toner container;
• and
• determining, by processing circuitry, an estimate of the amount of toner in the toner reservoir of the toner container based on the sensed vibration of the toner container,
• wherein the sensing the vibration includes sensing the vibration at a first side of the toner container opposite a second side of the toner container at which the impulse force is generated, the first side of the toner container and the second side of the toner container being positioned at opposite ends of the toner reservoir of the toner container.