초록 ▼

A method and system to sense an amount of material such as toner in a container held in a horizontal position within a machine, such as a printing machine. A level sensor senses an amount of material within a dispensing unit which causes the level sensor to issue a signal. The dispensing unit is ext

A method and system to sense an amount of material such as toner in a container held in a horizontal position within a machine, such as a printing machine. A level sensor senses an amount of material within a dispensing unit which causes the level sensor to issue a signal. The dispensing unit is external to the container. The container holding the material is rotated, and a rotation direction reversed to a direction normally used to dispense the material. The reverse rotation direction moves the material to a closed end of the container. The container is then moved in a forward direction following the rotation of the container in the reverse direction. The forward rotation moves the material to the open end of the container, and the material further moves into the dispensing unit. A signal is generated when a sufficient amount of material has been moved into the dispensing unit. A time period is determined which represents the time it took to move the material from the closed end of the material, until the signal indicating a sufficient amount of material exists in the dispensing unit. The amount of material in the container is estimated by use of the determined time period.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for sensing an amount of a material in a container held in a horizontal position within a machine the method comprising:sensing by a level sensor an amount of the material within a dispensing unit which causes the level sensor to issue a signal, the dispensing u

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for sensing an amount of a material in a container held in a horizontal position within a machine the method comprising:sensing by a level sensor an amount of the material within a dispensing unit which causes the level sensor to issue a signal, the dispensing unit being external to the container;rotating the container holding the material in a rotation direction reverse to a direction to dispense the material, wherein the reverse rotation direction moves the material to a closed end of the container;rotating the container in a forward rotation direction following the rotating of the container in the reverse rotation direction, wherein the forward rotation direction moves the material to an open end of the container;moving the material from the open end of the container into the dispensing unit;generating a signal indicating a sufficient amount of material is in the dispensing unit;determining a time period representing a time it took to move the material from the closed end of the container, until the signal indicating the sufficient amount of material is in the dispensing unit; andestimating the amount of the material in the container, by use of the determined time period.