Abstract: A toner cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable drive shaft is positioned within the reservoir. A partition is mounted on the drive shaft and axially movable along the drive shaft when the drive shaft rotates. The partition divides the reservoir into a first compartment for storing fresh toner and a second compartment for storing waste toner. An expandable agitator is positioned within the second compartment and rotatable with the drive shaft. When the drive shaft rotates and the partition moves along the drive shaft expanding a volume of the second compartment, the agitator expands along a length of the drive shaft and rotates with the drive shaft for agitating waste toner in the second compartment.

Abstract: A toner cartridge 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 a threaded portion. A thread follower mounted on the threaded portion of the shaft moves axially along the threaded portion of the shaft when the shaft rotates. A magnet is movable with the thread follower axially along the shaft for detecting an axial position of the thread follower along the shaft by magnetic sensors when the toner cartridge is installed in the electrophotographic image forming device.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable drive shaft is positioned within the reservoir. A partition is mounted on the drive shaft and axially movable along the drive shaft when the drive shaft rotates. The partition divides the reservoir into a first compartment for storing fresh toner and a second compartment for storing waste toner. An expandable agitator is positioned within the second compartment and rotatable with the drive shaft. When the drive shaft rotates and the partition moves along the drive shaft expanding a volume of the second compartment, the agitator expands along a length of the drive shaft and rotates with the drive shaft for agitating waste toner in the second compartment.

Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging system according to one example embodiment includes a toner cartridge including a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A shaft is rotatably positioned within the reservoir and includes a threaded portion. A partition mounted on the threaded portion of the shaft moves axially along the threaded portion when the shaft rotates. The partition divides the reservoir into a first toner compartment and a second toner compartment. A sensing arrangement monitors an axial position of the partition along the shaft. The sensing arrangement includes a plurality of sensors arranged at predetermined axial locations relative to the shaft and a sensed member connected to the partition. The plurality of sensors are positioned to detect an axial position of the sensed member relative to the shaft for determining the axial position of the partition along the shaft.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example includes a housing having a toner reservoir, an exit for exiting toner and an entry port for receiving waste toner. A partition divides the reservoir into a first compartment for storing fresh toner and a second compartment for storing waste toner. The first compartment is in fluid communication with the exit. The partition is movable within the reservoir between a first position and a second position. The entry port is in fluid communication with the first compartment when the partition is in the first position such that waste toner received through the entry port is deposited into the first compartment. The entry port is in fluid communication with the second compartment but closed off from the first compartment when the partition is in the second position such that waste toner received through the entry port is deposited into the second compartment.

Abstract: A substrate heating system for an inkjet printhead. The substrate heating system includes heating resistors distributed in association with the ink jet nozzle structures, and located thermally adjacent thereto. The plural switching transistors that control the current through the substrate heating resistors are also distributed with the ink jetting nozzle structures, together with the substrate heating resistors. Polysilicon is used in constructing the substrate heating resistors. Cells of the substrate heaters can be arranged physically in a linear manner, along the nozzle structures. The substrate heater cells can be controlled so that the temperature of various zones of nozzle structures can be controlled.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for compensating a shift in an ON resistance of a transistor in a chip of a printhead of an inkjet printer. The method includes determining a value of a life indication parameter of the printhead and comparing the determined value of the life indication parameter of the printhead with at least one predetermined value of the life indication parameter. The at least one predetermined value of the life indication parameter of the printhead is stored in at least one of a memory of the inkjet printer and a memory of the chip of the printhead. Thereafter, a gate voltage input to the transistor is modified based on a difference between the determined value of the life indication parameter and the at least one predetermined value of the life indication parameter of the printhead for compensating the shift in the ON resistance of the transistor.

Abstract: A substrate heating system for an inkjet printhead. The substrate heating system includes heating resistors distributed in association with the ink jet nozzle structures, and located thermally adjacent thereto. The plural switching transistors that control the current through the substrate heating resistors are also distributed with the ink jetting nozzle structures, together with the substrate heating resistors. Polysilicon is used in constructing the substrate heating resistors. Cells of the substrate heaters can be arranged physically in a linear manner, along the nozzle structures. The substrate heater cells can be controlled so that the temperature of various zones of nozzle structures can be controlled.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for optimizing the energy supplied to a print head heater are disclosed. A resistance associated with the print head heater or actuator is determined. A range of fire pulse values is determined based at least in part on the determined resistance and a velocity optimization procedure is executed based at least in part on the determined range of fire pulse values. An optimal fire pulse for the print head heater is selected based at least in part on the results of the velocity optimization procedure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for compensating a shift in an ON resistance of a transistor in a chip of a printhead of an inkjet printer. The method includes determining a value of a life indication parameter of the printhead and comparing the determined value of the life indication parameter of the printhead with at least one predetermined value of the life indication parameter. The at least one predetermined value of the life indication parameter of the printhead is stored in at least one of a memory of the inkjet printer and a memory of the chip of the printhead. Thereafter, a gate voltage input to the transistor is modified based on a difference between the determined value of the life indication parameter and the at least one predetermined value of the life indication parameter of the printhead for compensating the shift in the ON resistance of the transistor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for optimizing the energy supplied to a print head heater are disclosed. A resistance associated with the print head heater or actuator is determined. A range of fire pulse values is determined based at least in part on the determined resistance and a velocity optimization procedure is executed based at least in part on the determined range of fire pulse values. An optimal fire pulse for the print head heater is selected based at least in part on the results of the velocity optimization procedure.

Abstract: A thermal inkjet apparatus includes a printhead body, nozzles, ink cavities and ink supply lines. Heater resistors are in the cavities and a firing circuit is connected to provide firing pulses to the heater resistor and nucleate the ink so that it fires ink out of the nozzles. Each heater resistor is also connected to a warming circuit that supplies warming pulses, one warming pulse during each firing cycle, to warm the heater resistors but not nucleate the ink. The warming circuit includes current limiting ballast resistors to limit the current through the healer resistors and thereby prevent the warming pulse from nucleating the ink. Warming pulses and firing pulses are not generated during the same firing cycle for a particular heater resistor. One or more thermal sensors are disposed on the printhead body to sense the temperature and a control circuit responds to the sensors to generate warming pulses having desired widths to provide a desired level of warming.