US3896279A - Toner level detector assembly including magnetically responsive switch actuated by differential loaded blade type rotor carrying magnetic actuator - Google Patents

Toner level detector assembly including magnetically responsive switch actuated by differential loaded blade type rotor carrying magnetic actuator Download PDF

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Publication number
US3896279A
US3896279A US451628A US45162874A US3896279A US 3896279 A US3896279 A US 3896279A US 451628 A US451628 A US 451628A US 45162874 A US45162874 A US 45162874A US 3896279 A US3896279 A US 3896279A
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United States
Prior art keywords
toner
rotor
switch
detector
supply
Prior art date
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Expired - Lifetime
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US451628A
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English (en)
Inventor
Kiyoshi Sugawara
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Xerox Ltd
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Rank Xerox Ltd
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Publication date
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H36/00—Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
    • G01F23/22—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water
    • G01F23/226—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water measuring the braking of a rotatable element
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0848—Arrangements for testing or measuring developer properties or quality, e.g. charge, size, flowability
    • G03G15/0856—Detection or control means for the developer level
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S222/00—Dispensing
    • Y10S222/01—Xerography

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A detector for providing an operator of an electrostatographic copier with an early warning of impending exhaustion of the supply of toner in the reservoir of a toner dispenser comprises a rotor with a plurality of blades of significantly different surface areas in the reservoir for activating a switch when the supply of toner drops below a predetermined level so that a suitable indicator is then activated to provide the warning.
  • An object of this invention is to provide a reliable and economical detector, which drains little if any power when in a standby condition, but which still supplies an early warning of impending exhaustion of the toner in a toner dispenser.
  • a rotor having diametrically opposed blades of significantly different surface areas is journalled in the reservior of a toner dispenser and is biased so that the blades tend to assume a generally horizontal orientation. Because of their surface area differences, the blades are differentially loaded when the reservior is full of toner and are, therefore, inclined under those circumstances. But, as the toner supply isdepleted, the
  • a switch when the supply of toner drops below a predetermined level, thereby activating an indicator to warn the operator of impending exhaustion of the toner supply.
  • FIG. -1 is a perspective view, with certain parts broken away for clarity, of a toner dispenser including a toner level detector constructed in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the toner dispenser taken along the line 2 2in FIG. 1;
  • FIGS. 3a-3c are a'series of fragmentary stop motion views showing the conditions of the rotor blades, switch actuator and switch, respectively, when the reservior is full; and
  • I FIGS. 4a-4c are additional fragmentary stop motion view showingthe conditions of the rotor blades, switch actuator and switch, respectively, when the supply of toner drops below the level at which a warning of impending exhaustion of the toner supply is provided.
  • toner dispenser 11 having a reservior 14 for granular toner material 13.
  • a detector 15 provides the operator with a warning whenever the supply of toner 13 in the reservior 14 falls below a predetermined level, thereby encouraging the operator to replenish the toner supply before there is any perceptible change in the copy density.
  • the additional toner 13 that may be needed from time-to-time is added through an opening 16 at the top of the reservior 14.
  • the detector 15 includes a switch 21 and a rotor 22 which rotates as the supply of toner 13 is depleted to actuate the switch 21 when the toner supply drops below a predetermined level.
  • a suitable indicator such as a lamp (not shown) is activated to thereby warn the operator of impending exhaustion of the toner supply.
  • the rotor 22 carries a pair of diametrically opposed blades 23 and 24 and is journalled in the opposite end walls 25 and 26 of the reservior 14.
  • One end of the rotor 22 is extended outwardly from the reservior l4 and is connected to a disc 27 which is eccentrically weighted by a slug-like insert 28 so that the blades 23 and 24 are biased toward a horizontal orientation.
  • the blades 23 and 24 have significantly different surface areas and are nested between a pair of substantially vertical baffles 31 and 32.
  • the baffles 31 and 32 are supported by the ends 25 and 26 of the reservior 14 in essentially parallel alignment with the forward and rearward sidewalls 33 and 34, respectively of the reservoir.
  • the blades 23 and 24 are differentially loaded when the reservior 14 contains a full supply of toner 13. Under these conditions, therefore, the blades 23 and 24 are inclined from the horizontal (FIG. 3a) despite the biasing affect of the weight 28. But, as the toner supply is depleted, the differential between the loads acting on the two blades 23 and 24 decreases, with the result that the rotor 22 rotates under the influence of the weight 28 to bring the blades toward a horizontal orientation (FIG. 3b).
  • the switch 21 is mounted on the end wall 25 of the reservoir 14 (by means not shown) so that its actuator 35 is maintained in a fixed position to be tripped by an actuating element 36 on the disc 27 when the blades 23 and 24 reach the horizontal.
  • a suitable indicator (not shown) is activated in response to the actuation of the switch 21 to provide the operator with a timely warning of impending exhuastion of the supply of toner 13.
  • the switch 21 is suitably a magnetic proximity switch.
  • a magnet is used as the actuating element 36 and the disc is otherwise formed from non-magnetic materials.
  • the present invention provides a relatively simple and reliable detector which may be advantageously utilized in the toner dispenser of an electrostatographic copier to warn the operator of impending exhaustion of the toner supply before there is any perceptible change in the density of the copied image.
  • the toner dispenser and detector of claim 1 further including a pair of baffles supported by said reservoir on opposite sides of said rotor for preventing toner for accumulating in the area of said reservoir immediately below said rotor in quantities sufficient to interfere with the rotation of said rotor.
  • bias means comprises a disc mounted for rotation with said rotor, said disc being eccentrically weighted to supply said bias for said rotor.
  • said switch is a magnetically responsive switch
  • said bias means comprises an eccentrically weighted disc of non-magnetic material mounted for rotation with said rotor
  • said actuating means comprises a magnet carried by said disc for actuating said switch when the toner supply drops below said predetermined level.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Levels Of Liquids Or Fluent Solid Materials (AREA)
US451628A 1973-09-05 1974-03-15 Toner level detector assembly including magnetically responsive switch actuated by differential loaded blade type rotor carrying magnetic actuator Expired - Lifetime US3896279A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1973103485U JPS5136534Y2 (en]) 1973-09-05 1973-09-05

Publications (1)

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US3896279A true US3896279A (en) 1975-07-22

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US451628A Expired - Lifetime US3896279A (en) 1973-09-05 1974-03-15 Toner level detector assembly including magnetically responsive switch actuated by differential loaded blade type rotor carrying magnetic actuator

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JP (1) JPS5136534Y2 (en])
CA (1) CA1038020A (en])

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4003258A (en) * 1974-08-13 1977-01-18 Ricoh Co., Ltd. Apparatus for detecting the level of a particulate material
USD248277S (en) 1976-02-17 1978-06-27 Eastman Kodak Company Container for toner powder
US4200388A (en) * 1976-12-08 1980-04-29 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Toner density sensor for electrostatic copying machine
US4277657A (en) * 1978-06-21 1981-07-07 Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft Apparatus for determining the quantity of particles present in a container
USD278539S (en) 1983-09-09 1985-04-23 International Business Machines Corporation Toner cartridge
US4682874A (en) * 1981-11-19 1987-07-28 Xerox Corporation Particle level indicator
USD365844S (en) 1993-01-08 1996-01-02 Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. Developer-supplying unit for an image forming apparatus
US5495315A (en) * 1991-03-27 1996-02-27 Xerox Corporation Level sensing apparatus

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2568332A (en) * 1946-04-15 1951-09-18 Nat Plastic Products Company Device controlling flow of material into a hopper, responsive to material level in said hopper
US2690484A (en) * 1952-07-28 1954-09-28 Christian J Van Eyk Float switch
US2851553A (en) * 1955-07-29 1958-09-09 Bin Dicator Company Bin level indicator
US3572555A (en) * 1969-05-27 1971-03-30 Ibm Xerographic toner dispenser
US3632019A (en) * 1970-05-26 1972-01-04 John F Harm Level control system for flowable solid materials

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2568332A (en) * 1946-04-15 1951-09-18 Nat Plastic Products Company Device controlling flow of material into a hopper, responsive to material level in said hopper
US2690484A (en) * 1952-07-28 1954-09-28 Christian J Van Eyk Float switch
US2851553A (en) * 1955-07-29 1958-09-09 Bin Dicator Company Bin level indicator
US3572555A (en) * 1969-05-27 1971-03-30 Ibm Xerographic toner dispenser
US3632019A (en) * 1970-05-26 1972-01-04 John F Harm Level control system for flowable solid materials

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4003258A (en) * 1974-08-13 1977-01-18 Ricoh Co., Ltd. Apparatus for detecting the level of a particulate material
USD248277S (en) 1976-02-17 1978-06-27 Eastman Kodak Company Container for toner powder
US4200388A (en) * 1976-12-08 1980-04-29 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Toner density sensor for electrostatic copying machine
US4277657A (en) * 1978-06-21 1981-07-07 Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft Apparatus for determining the quantity of particles present in a container
US4682874A (en) * 1981-11-19 1987-07-28 Xerox Corporation Particle level indicator
USD278539S (en) 1983-09-09 1985-04-23 International Business Machines Corporation Toner cartridge
US5495315A (en) * 1991-03-27 1996-02-27 Xerox Corporation Level sensing apparatus
USD365844S (en) 1993-01-08 1996-01-02 Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. Developer-supplying unit for an image forming apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5136534Y2 (en]) 1976-09-08
JPS5050035U (en]) 1975-05-16
CA1038020A (en) 1978-09-05

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