e-STUDIO167/207/237
© February 2007 TOSHIBA TEC CORPORATION All rights reserved
DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
12 - 4
12.3.2
Functions of the toner cartridge PC board (CTRG)
The toner cartridge in this equipment mounts the toner cartridge PC board (CTRG). An IC chip is
embedded in this board, and the data identifying the recommended TOSHIBA toner cartridge and
thresholds to determine if the cartridge is nearly empty are written in this chip.
To measure the amount of toner remaining in the cartridge, when the value of counter for period of
toner cartridge rotation time (08-1410) is updated, this equipment writes the updated value into the
toner cartridge PC board (CTRG).
These data written in the toner cartridge PC board (CTRG) enable the functions below, and accordingly
this equipment operates as shown below. Data reading is performed every time the power of this equip-
ment is turned ON and the front cover is closed.
[Data read by the toner cartridge PC board (CTRG)]
•
Data to identify recommended TOSHIBA toner cartridges
•
Thresholds to determine if the toner cartridge is nearly empty
•
Value of counter for period of toner cartridge rotation time
[Functions]
•
Cartridge detecting function
This function checks whether the toner cartridge is inserted correctly or not, and whether the recom-
mended toner cartridge is used or not.
•
Toner remaining check function
This function notifies the user of the near-empty status of toner. Normally, the message “Toner is
low” is displayed when the toner is running out, and “Toner empty” when the toner cartridge is
empty.
•
Toner remaining check notification function
Upon detecting the near-empty status of toner, this function automatically notifies your service rep-
resentative.
[Operations]
A sign of the status that the toner cartridge is nearly empty (= the behavior of the toner lamp) appears
when the value of counter for period of toner cartridge rotation time has exceeded the thresholds previ-
ously written in the toner cartridge PC board (CTRG). When a used cartridge refilled with new toner is
used, that is the value of counter for period of toner cartridge rotation time in the toner cartridge PC
board (CTRG) had already exceeded the threshold to determine the near-empty status of the toner at
this moment, the sign of the near-empty status appears immediately after the installation of this car-
tridge. When a non-recommended toner cartridge is used, the toner lamp is lit by the cartridge detecting
function because its data cannot be read out.
The toner near-empty status threshold setting (08-971) is provided to adjust the timing for displaying
the toner near-empty status as follows.
Toner cartridge
Recommended cartridge
Recommended cartridge
refilled with new toner
Non-recommended cartridge
Cartridge detecting
function
Enabled
“Toner not recognized” is
displayed when no cartridge
is installed.
Enabled
“Toner not recognized” is
displayed when no car-
tridge is installed.
Disabled
“Toner not recognized” is dis-
played even when the car-
tridge is installed.
Toner remaining
check function
Enabled
“Toner is low” is displayed
when the cartridge is nearly
empty.
Disabled
“Toner is low” is displayed
even when a new cartridge
is installed.
Disabled
This function does not oper-
ate.
Toner remaining
check notification
function
Enabled
Disabled
Disabled