Patent ID: 6701097
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An imaging device comprisinga toner hopper, a paddle mounted for rotation in said toner hopper, a tracking member mounted integral with said paddle for rotation with said paddle, said tracking member having at least two, spaced indicia capable of being sensed, a sensing apparatus mounted at a predetermined location in said imaging device for sensing said indicia, a yieldable drive connection from a source of drive rotation to said paddle to rotate said paddle, data processing apparatus to compute scaled amounts representative of amount of rotation of said paddle during acceleration of said paddle rotation based on the speed of said paddle rotation at the start of acceleration until said acceleration changes to deceleration or to steady state, data processing apparatus to compute scaled amounts representative of amount of rotation of said paddle during deceleration of said paddle rotation based on the speed of said paddle rotation at the start of deceleration until said deceleration changes to acceleration or to steady state, data processing apparatus to define unitary amounts representative of amount of rotation of said paddle during steady state rotation, data processing apparatus to determine a sum of said scaled amounts from acceleration, said scaled amounts from deceleration, and said unitary amounts, and data processing apparatus responsive to the sensing of said indicia by said sensing apparatus and to said sum of said scaled amounts from acceleration, said scaled amounts from deceleration, and said unitary amounts to determine the yield of said drive connection.