| US 7,593,653 B2 | ||
| Optical sensor system with a dynamic threshold for monitoring toner transfer in an image forming device | ||
| John Parker Richey, Lexington, Ky. (US); David Feinauer, Lexington, Ky. (US); and Mark Alan Stuart, Lexington, Ky. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, Ky. (US) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 22, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/843,328. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2009/0052911 A1, Feb. 26, 2009 | ||
| Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 399—27 [399/258; 399/260] | 20 Claims |
| 1. A method of monitoring toner transfer within an image forming device, the method comprising:
sensing movement of a toner transfer gear associated with directing toner from a toner cartridge, using a reflectivity sensor;
determining a dynamic threshold based on a sensor output from the reflectivity sensor;
determining an amount of rotation of the toner transfer gear based on a comparison between an instantaneous sensor output
from the reflectivity sensor and the dynamic threshold; and
determining an amount of toner transfer within the image forming device based on the amount of rotation of the toner transfer
gear.
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