Replaceable unit for an image forming device having magnets of varying angular offset for toner level sensing
View Patent ↗A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir and has an axis of rotation. A first magnet and a second magnet are connected to the shaft and rotatable around the axis of rotation in response to rotation of the shaft. The first magnet and the second magnet pass near at least a portion of an inner wall of the housing forming the reservoir during rotation of the first and second magnets. An amount of angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet varies depending on an amount of toner in the reservoir.
1. A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device, comprising:
a housing having a reservoir for storing toner;
a rotatable shaft positioned within the reservoir and having an axis of rotation;
a first linkage rotatable with the rotatable shaft around the axis of rotation, the first linkage having a first permanent magnet;
a second linkage rotatable around the axis of rotation in response to rotation of the rotatable shaft, the second linkage includes a second permanent magnet trailing the first permanent magnet in an operative rotational direction of the rotatable shaft such that the second permanent magnet is positioned closer to a trailing end of the first permanent magnet than to a leading end of the first permanent magnet in the operative rotational direction of the rotatable shaft, the second linkage is rotatable independent of the rotatable shaft between a forward rotational stop and a rearward rotational stop such that an amount of angular offset between the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet varies depending on a rotational position of the second linkage relative to the forward rotational stop and the rearward rotational stop; and
a spring biasing the second linkage in the operative rotational direction of the rotatable shaft toward the forward rotational stop.
2. The replaceable unit of claim 1 , wherein the second permanent magnet is spaced angularly rearward relative to the operative rotational direction of the rotatable shaft from the first permanent magnet when the second linkage is at the forward rotational stop.
3. The replaceable unit of claim 1 , wherein the first permanent magnet is substantially axially aligned with the second permanent magnet with respect to the axis of rotation.
4. The replaceable unit of claim 1 , wherein the first permanent magnet is substantially radially aligned with the second permanent magnet with respect to the axis of rotation.
5. The replaceable unit of claim 1 , wherein the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet pass near a point on an inner wall of the housing forming the reservoir once per revolution of the rotatable shaft for detection by a magnetic sensor when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device.
6. The replaceable unit of claim 1 , wherein the first linkage is fixed to rotate with the rotatable shaft.
7. A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device, comprising:
a housing having a reservoir for storing toner;
a rotatable shaft positioned within the reservoir and having an axis of rotation;
a first linkage rotatable with the rotatable shaft around the axis of rotation, the first linkage having a first permanent magnet; and
a second linkage rotatable around the axis of rotation in response to rotation of the rotatable shaft, the second linkage includes a second permanent magnet trailing the first permanent magnet in an operative rotational direction of the rotatable shaft such that the second permanent magnet is positioned closer to a trailing end of the first permanent magnet than to a leading end of the first permanent magnet in the operative rotational direction of the rotatable shaft, the second linkage is rotatable independent of the rotatable shaft between a forward rotational stop and a rearward rotational stop such that an amount of angular offset between the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet varies depending on a rotational position of the second linkage relative to the forward rotational stop and the rearward rotational stop,
wherein the second permanent magnet is spaced angularly rearward relative to the operative rotational direction of the rotatable shaft from the first permanent magnet when the second linkage is at the forward rotational stop.
8. The replaceable unit of claim 7 , wherein the first permanent magnet is substantially axially aligned with the second permanent magnet with respect to the axis of rotation.
9. The replaceable unit of claim 7 , wherein the first permanent magnet is substantially radially aligned with the second permanent magnet with respect to the axis of rotation.
10. The replaceable unit of claim 7 , wherein the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet pass near a point on an inner wall of the housing forming the reservoir once per revolution of the rotatable shaft for detection by a magnetic sensor when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device.
11. The replaceable unit of claim 7 , wherein the first linkage is fixed to rotate with the rotatable shaft.