Ricoh G176, Service Manual

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Printing Process
SM 6-13 G176/G177/G176L
Det
ails
6.3.6 TONER END DETECTION
Overview
This machine uses two methods to detect toner near-end and toner end:
ƒ A toner-end sensor, mounted below the print cartridge, monitors the level of the toner
in the cartridge.
ƒ The machine monitors the length of time the main motor has been running with the
same AIO cartridge.
Note that print quality between toner near-end and toner end cannot be guaranteed. This is
because toner end is not detected directly; it is automatically detected 200 pages after
near-end (or, in the case of main motor rotation count, after the motor rotates enough to
print an additional 200 A4 pages at 2 pages/job). Toner can run out more quickly than this,
if the coverage ratio is high.
Toner End Sensor
[A] Toner tank
[B] Toner end sensor
The toner end sensor detects toner near-end by the voltage output. When the output from
the toner end sensor is below a given level, the machine displays “Low on Toner”.
After toner near-end, the machine can print approximately 200 additional pages. At this
time, the “Replace Printer Cartridge Soon” message appears.
After the additional pages have printed, printing stops and then the “Replace Printer
Cartridge” message remains in the display.