US 7,111,916 B2Granted

System and method of fluid level regulating for a media coating system

AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.

InventorsRaymond Jay Barry, Michael Wesley Baskette, Gary Scott Overall, Steven Andrew Rice, Johnny Ray Sears, Curtis Ray Droege, Randall Steven Gall, Andrew Charles Hogan

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Abstract

An apparatus for the management of the fluid level in a media coating system. In one embodiment, the apparatus has a supply item for the storage of a media coating fluid and an applicator having a trough for receiving the media coating fluid from the supply item. The apparatus utilizes a fluid level detection sensor that is located within the applicator to measure whether the media coating fluid level within the trough of the applicator is either above or below a threshold position and to generates an output signal. The apparatus has a controller for receiving the output signal and controlling delivery of the media coating fluid from the supply item to the applicator.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A fluid level detection sensor for measuring a media coating fluid level in a media coating system, wherein the media coating system has an applicator with a trough to contain the media coating fluid and the fluid level detection sensor is located within the applicator, comprising:

a. a first probe made of conducting material having a connecting end, a measuring end and a body there between;
b. a second probe made of conducting material having a connecting end, a measuring end and a body therebetween, wherein the first probe and the second probe are spaced apart from each other such that an impedance between the measuring end of the first probe and the measuring end of the second probe can be measured;
c. an oscillator having an output, wherein the output is electrically coupled to the connecting end of the first probe;
and
d. a detector comprising:
a. an input and an output, wherein the input is electrically coupled to the output of the oscillator and the connecting end of the first probe for receiving signal related to the measured impedance between the measuring end of the first probe and the measuring end of the second probe and the output generates an output signal;
b. a field-effect transistor having a drain, a gate and a source, wherein the source of the field-effect transistor is grounded and the gate is electrically coupled to the output of the oscillator;
and
c. a frequency discriminator having an input electrically coupled to the drain of the field-effect transistor and an output, wherein the field-effect transistor receives an output signal having a frequency from the oscillator output and allows the output signal to pass if the amplitude of the output signal is greater than the gate threshold voltage, and the frequency discriminator receives the output signal and at the output generates a logic low if the frequency of the oscillator output is higher than a threshold frequency, or a logic high if the frequency of the oscillator output is lower than the threshold frequency, respectively.

6 more elements

A method for fluid level management in a media coating system, wherein the media coating system has an applicator with a trough to contain the media coating fluid, comprising the steps of:

a. determining media coating fluid level within the applicator against a predetermined upper refill limit and a predetermined lower refill limit, wherein the determining media coating fluid level step comprises:
i. measuring media coating fluid level within the applicator;
ii. generating a signal indicating that the fluid level is low if the media coating fluid level is lower than the predetermined upper refill limit;
iii. counting the number of pages coated since the fluid level reaches the predetermined upper refill limit;
and
iv. determining if a media coating request is received;
and
b. selectively transferring media coating fluid from a supply item to the trough of the applicator depending on the level of the media coating fluid against the predetermined upper refill limit and the predetermined lower refill limit and the status of the media coating system.

5 more elements

A system for fluid level management in a media coating system used to coat a plurality of pages of media, wherein the media coating system has an applicator with a trough to contain the media coating fluid, comprising:

a. means for determining media coating fluid level within the applicator against a predetermined upper refill limit and a predetermined lower refill limit, wherein the means for determining the media coating fluid level comprises:
i. means for measuring media coating fluid level within the applicator;
ii. means for generating a signal indicating that the fluid level is low if the media coating fluid level is lower than the predetermined upper refill limit;
iii. means for counting the number of pages coated since the fluid level reaches the predetermined upper refill limit;
and
iv. means for determining if a media coating request is received;
and
b. means for selectively transferring media coating fluid from a supply item to the trough of the applicator depending on the level of the media coating fluid against the predetermined upper refill limit and the predetermined lower refill limit and the status of the media coating system.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.