4 toner empty condition detection, Toner empty condition detection -17 – Konica Minolta 5430 DL 5440 DL 5450 User Manual
Page 54
Main Unit Theory of Operation
Toner Cartridge / Hopper
2-17
II Comp
osition
/O
p
eration
4.2.4
Toner empty condition detection
• A toner empty condition is detected by the LED and toner level sensor mounted on the
Toner Level Sensor Board (PWB-D) provided in the machine.
• Light emitted from the LED travels through the light guiding path and is guided into the
Toner Cartridge.
• The toner level sensor detects the intensity of the transmitted light guided through the
light guiding path from the inside of the Toner Cartridge. The toner level is thereby esti-
mated.
• To ensure correct detection of the intensity of transmitted light by the toner level sensor, a
cleaning sheet is provided that cleans the window in the light guiding path periodically.
• Detection start timing
1.
When the Developing Unit is driven evenly
2.
LED steady light is stabilized
3.
When the above two conditions are met, the machine starts a toner empty detection
sequence. Detection control is, however, interrupted during registration correction and
gamma correction, in which it is not possible to acquire output values of the toner level
sensor.
•
1.
A sequence is started for detecting a toner empty condition when a toner near-empty
condition is detected.
2.
The machine determines that there is a toner empty condition when the toner level sen-
sor output value remains below a predetermined value and if the following event is
detected a predetermined number of consecutive times: the output value of the toner
level sensor remains a predetermined value or lower for more than a predetermined
period of time.
3.
The consecutive detection count is retained even when power is turned OFF.
•
A toner empty condition is reset when a new Toner Cartridge is detected.
4138to2012c2
4138to2012c1
LED
Sensor
Light Guiding Path
Cleaning Sheet
Cleaning Sheet
5430DL_5440DL_5450_TO_PDF.book 17 ページ 2005年4月12日 火曜日 午後4時49分