US 5,634,169 A · Multiple function encoder wheel for cartridges utilized in an electrophotographic output device

Abstract

Disclosed is a cartridge having an encoder wheel thereon for encoding EP supply cartridge characteristic information for an electrophotographic machine, the cartridge comprising, a sump for carrying an initial amount of toner. A shaft is mounted for rotation in said sump, and an agitator or paddle is mounted thereon in such a manner that when the shaft rotates, the paddle rotates into, through and out of engagement with toner carried by the sump. A single encoder wheel is mounted on the shaft, external of the sump, the encoder wheel positioned for proximate mating coaction with a coded wheel reader when the cartridge is mounted in position in the electrophotographic machine. A drive means, and a variable torque flexible coupling connects the drive means to the shaft to effect rotation thereof. The encoder wheel is configured for indicating, in conjunction with said coded wheel reader, a component of resistance to paddle movement through the portion of said sump having toner therein to give an indication of the amount of toner remaining in said sump. Other portions of the wheel, in a portion thereof which confronts the reader during a substantially constant velocity of rotation thereof, carries additional characteristic information of the cartridge to permit proper operation of the machine as well as increased efficiency of operation thereof.

Claims42

Dependent claims

A cartridge for an electrophotographic machine, comprising:

a sump for carrying an initial quantity of toner;
a shaft mounted for rotation in said sump, and a paddle mounted thereon in such a manner that when said shaft rotates, said paddle rotates therewith, into, through and out of engagement with toner carried within said sump;
an encoder wheel mounted on said shaft, externally of said sump;
said encoder wheel positioned for mating coaction with a code wheel reader when said cartridge is in a home position in an electrophotographic machine;
and
a torque sensitive coupling connected to said shaft for connection to a drive means in said machine, when said cartridge is installed in said machine, to effect rotation of said shaft, paddle and encoder wheel;
said encoder wheel configured for indicating, in conjunction with said coded wheel reader, one or more cartridge characteristics to said machine.

4 more elements

An electrophotographic (EP) machine, comprising:

a replaceable EP cartridge having at least a sump for containing a supply of toner material;
drive means for moving print receiving media through the machine, and for effecting rotation of a paddle within said sump, into, through and out of toner material carried in said sump;
an encoder wheel on said cartridge, in a preselected and predetermined orientation with respect to said paddle in said sump and connected thereto, and a code wheel reader in mating relation with respect thereto when said cartridge is installed in said machine;
and
a variable torque sensitive coupling connecting said drive means to said paddle to effect rotation thereof, said encoder wheel configured for indicating, in conjunction with said coded wheel reader, characteristics of the cartridge including a component of resistance to paddle movement as reflected in said torque sensitive coupling through the portion of said sump having toner therein to give an indication of the amount of toner remaining in said sump.

2 more elements

A method of determining characteristics of a replaceable cartridge for an electrophotographic machine, said cartridge including a sump for holding toner therein and a paddle mounted for rotation within said sump, an encoder wheel mounted externally of said sump and connected to said paddle for rotation therewith, said wheel having a plurality of slots therein, some of said slots being coded for indicating characteristics of the cartridge when rotated by drive means for reading by a code wheel reader on said machine, comprising the steps of:

rotating said wheel and determining the home position of said wheel and the position thereon of encoded slots representing bits relative to the paddle in said sump of toner by counting drive means increments from a predetermined start or home position;
recording increments to encoded slots and stop window trailing edge;
subtracting an incremental count of said drive means as if no toner were in said sump from an actual incremental count to selected predetermined positions of said paddle in said sump containing toner to determine delay being measured in known distances traveled by said paddle under no toner to actual toner contained conditions;
and determining from said difference the quantity of toner remaining in said sump.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiple function encoder wheel for cartridges utilized in an electrophotographic output device

Life of this patent

Multiple function encoder wheel for cartridges utilized in an electrophotographic output device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42