Method and apparatus to detect loads associated with one of a plurality of components driven by a shared motor in an image forming apparatus

An image forming device comprising:

• a first member movably positioned within the image forming device;
• a second member movably positioned within the image forming device;
• a shared motor operatively connected to the first and second members to move the first and second members in a cyclic manner;
• a motor control circuit to control the shared motor based at least partly upon a motor control signal;
• a logic circuit to detect an error associated with the first member based on monitoring, in a frequency domain, a predetermined frequency of interest of the motor control signal, the frequency of interest associated with the shared motor driving the first member against a cyclic load.

An image forming device comprising:

• a member movably positioned within a waste toner container, the member causing an interference with the container when the amount of toner in the reservoir reaches a predetermined quantity;
• a motor operatively connected to the member to move the member in a reciprocating manner;
• a motor control circuit to control the motor based at least partly upon a motor control signal;
• a logic circuit to detect accumulation of waste toner based on monitoring a predetermined frequency of interest of a frequency domain transform of the motor control signal, the frequency of interest associated with the motor driving the toner distributing member against the interference.

A method of operation in an image forming apparatus that includes a waste toner system, the method comprising:

• using a speed-controlled motor to drive a toner distributing member that distributes waste toner collected in a waste toner container;
• operating the speed-controlled motor in a feedback loop that uses a motor control signal;
• and
• detecting an accumulation of waste toner based on monitoring a predetermined frequency of interest of a frequency domain transform of the motor control signal that varies as needed to substantially maintain a desired motor speed while driving the toner distributing member.

A method of operation in an image forming apparatus that includes a waste toner system, the method comprising:

• using a speed-controlled motor to drive a toner distributing member that distributes waste toner collected in a waste toner container;
• operating the speed-controlled motor in a feed back loop that uses a motor control signal;
• causing an interference between the toner distributing member and the waste toner container when the accumulation of waste toner reaches a predetermined value;
• calculating a frequency domain transform of the motor control signal;
• and
• detecting the interference by determining when an amplitude of the frequency domain transform at a predetermined frequency of interest exceeds a predetermined threshold.