Patent ID: 9128443
Filing Date: 2015-09-08
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A method for estimating an amount of toner remaining in a reservoir of a replaceable unit for an image forming device, the method comprising: rotating a shaft positioned in the reservoir and measuring an amount of revolution of the shaft; pushing by the rotation of the shaft a paddle mounted on the shaft and free to fall ahead of the rotation of the shaft; decreasing an estimate of the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir based on the measured amount of revolution of the shaft; sensing the paddle near a lowest center of gravity of the paddle and monitoring whether a number of times the paddle is sensed near the lowest center of gravity of the paddle per revolution of the shaft increases; and adjusting the estimate of the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir when the number of times the paddle is sensed near the lowest center of gravity of the paddle per revolution of the shaft increases.