Indicating mechanism

Claim 2

For use with a toner reservoir in an electrographic machine, an indicating mechanism responsive to toner in said reservoir above a predetermined level, said mechanism comprising: sensing means movably mounted in said reservoir, at least a portion of said sensing means being biased to a first position at which said sensing means is restricted in movement in a given direction by toner above said predetermined level; indicating means actuatable in response to movement of said sensing means in said given direction; and means for periodically urging movement of said sensing means in said given direction with uniform force sufficient to overcome said bias to said first position so as to actuate said indicating means in an inverse proportion to the amount of toner above said predetermined level.

Claim 3

A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said indicating means is a pointer periodically contacted by said sensing means for movement to an indicating position during movement of said sensing means.

Claim 4

For use with a toner reservoir in an electrographic machine, a mechanism for indicating that toner in said reservoir is below a predetermined level, said mechanism comprising: sensing means movably mounted in said reservoir, at least a portion of said sensing means positioned to be restricted in movement in a given direction by toner above said predetermined level; indicating means actuatable by a predetermined amount of movement of said sensing means in said given direction; and means for momentarily urging movement of said sensing means in said given direction, said urging means exerting sufficient force to actuate said indicating means when said sensing means is free of restriction by toner above said predetermined level but exerting insufficient force to actuate said indicating means when said toner is above said predetermined level.

Claim 5

For use with a toner reservoir in an electrographic machine, a mechanism for indicating that toner in said reservoir is below a predetermined level, said mechanism comprising: sensing means movably mounted in said reservoir, at least a portion of said sensing means positioned to be restricted in movement in a given direction by toner above said predetermined level; indicating means actuatable by a predetermined amount of movement of said sensing means in said given direction; and means for momentarily urging movement of said sensing means in said given direction, said urging means exerting sufficient force to actuate said indicating means when said sensing means is free of restriction by toner above said predetermined level but exerting insufficient force to actuate said indicating means when said toner is above said predetermined level.

Claim 6

A mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said sensing means includes a blade connected to a shaft journaled for rotation in said reservoir, and said urging means includes means for imparting rotational motion to said shaft.

Claim 7

The mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said urging means is a momentarily actuatable solenoid.

Claim 8

A mechanism according to claim 5 including means coupled to a timing cycle of said electrographic machine for actuating said solenoid periodically according to a predetermined number of cycles of said machine.

Claim 9

For use with a particulate material reservoir, a mechanism for indicating that particulate material in said reservoir is below a predetermined level, said mechanism comprising: a shaft rotatable about an axis; a blade connected to said shaft for rotation around said axis, at least a portion of said blade being positioned in said reservoir above said predetermined level; switch means; indicating means actuable by said switch means; actuating means fixedly connected to said shaft for rotation therewith, engageable with said switch means in response to a given amount of rotation of said shaft to close said switch; and means for momentarily urging rotation of said shaft with a force sufficient to cause said actuating means to close said switch if said particulate material is below said predetermined level in said reservoir.

Claim 10

For use with a particulate material reservoir, a mechanism for indicating that particulate material in said reservoir is below a predetermined level, said mechanism comprising: a shaft rotatable about an axis; a blade connected to said shaft for rotation around said axis, at least a portion of said blade being positioned in said reservoir above said predetermined level; switch means; indicating means actuable by said switch means; actuating means fixedly connected to said shaft for rotation therewith, engageable with said switch means in response to a given amount of rotation of said shaft to close said switch; and means for momentarily urging rotation of said shaft with a force sufficient to cause said actuating means to close said switch if said particulate material is below said predetermined level in said reservoir.

Claim 11

The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said indiCating means includes: a. an electrically energizable signal device; b. a normally open switch located, with respect to said sensing means, so as to be closed in response to said predetermined amount of movement of said sensing means; and c. circuit means connected to said switch means and said signal device for connecting said signal device to a source of electrical energy upon closing of said switch means.

Claim 12

In combination with electrographic apparatus having a toner supply reservoir, a device for providing a signal for replenishment of toner in said supply reservoir, said device comprising: a. sensing means mounted for movement in said supply reservoir, said sensing means being biased to a first position in said reservoir at which at least a portion of said sensing means is restrained in movement by toner above a predetermined level in said supply reservoir; b. means coupled to said sensing means for periodically urging movement of said sensing means in a first direction, said urging means periodically exerting a uniform force sufficient to overcome the bias of said sensing means to said first position; and c. means operatively associated with said sensing means for signalling toner replenishment in response to a predetermined movement of said sensing means.

Claim 13

In combination with electrographic apparatus having a toner supply reservoir, a device for providing a signal for replenishment of toner in said supply reservoir, said device comprising: a. sensing means mounted for movement in said supply reservoir, said sensing means being biased to a first position in said reservoir at which at least a portion of said sensing means is restrained in movement by toner above a predetermined level in said supply reservoir; b. means coupled to said sensing means for periodically urging movement of said sensing means in a first direction, said urging means periodically exerting a uniform force sufficient to overcome the bias of said sensing means to said first position; and c. means operatively associated with said sensing means for signalling toner replenishment in response to a predetermined movement of said sensing means.

Claim 14

The invention defined in claim 9 wherein said combination further includes vibratory means for assisting movement of said sensing means to said first position between the periodic operations of said urging means.