The amount of toner remaining in each toner cartridge (20a-20d) of a printer (1) is estimated by incrementing a count when one pel is detected in each small region of the bit map. The printer senses toner out, after which the scale ascribed to one count is revised to reflect the actual count to toner out. Specifically, the count to toner out becomes the number representative of empty so that one-half of that count is interpreted as half full. The remaining toner in each cartridge is displayed to the operator at a gauge (21).
申请公布号
US5970275(A)
申请公布日期
1999.10.19
申请号
US19980096890
申请日期
1998.06.12
申请人
LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
发明人
BROWN, JR., MARTIN JOSEPH;JOHNSON, ALLEN PATRICK;VALENTI, PATRICIA ANN;WARD, II, EARL DAWSON;YORKEY, TIMOTHY GERARD