Method and apparatus for determining the level of particulate material in a particulate material collection vessel

• US 6,435,024 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag
• Inventors: Fournier, John C., Alvarez, Victor L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, ROSE MARY
• Application Number:
  US09/675,413
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 732/90.V, 732/90.U, 736/02, 736/27, 735/97, 735/98, 735/99, 736/00
• US Class Current: 73/290.00V
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2961 for discrete levels G01F23/2962 - G01F23/2968 take precedence

Abstract

A method for determining a level of particulate material in a particulate material collection vessel and a level indicator particulate material collection vessel.

Claims

1. A method for determining a level of particulate contaminate material in a particulate contaminate material collection vessel adapted to collect particulate contaminate material from a cyclone separator in a copier/duplicator machine, the method comprising:

a) connecting said collection vessel to said cyclone separator;

b) positioning a transmitter to transmit and ultrasonic wave signal through a particulate storage area in the vessel at a selected level to a receiver;

c) providing electrical power to the transmitter;

d) monitoring an ultrasonic wave signal received at the receiver to detect a change in the ultrasonic wave signal indicative of particulate contaminate material at the selected level in the particulate contaminant material storage area; and

,

e) generating a signal indicative of the presence of particulate contaminate material at the selected level in the particulate contaminate material storage area.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the frequency is from about 20 to about 400 kilohertz.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the frequency is from about 20 to about 200 kilohertz.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitter and the receiver are transducers.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein at least one of the transducers is acoustically coupled to the outside of the vessel.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein at least one of the transducers is acoustically coupled in a wall of the vessel.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein at least one of the transducers is positioned inside the vessel.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the particulate contaminate material comprises paper dust, toner and developer.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the particulate material comprises developer.

10. A particulate contaminate material collection vessel having a level indicator adapted to collect particulate contaminate material from a cyclone separator in a copier/duplicator machine, the vessel comprising:

a) a vessel having a particulate contaminate material inlet, the inlet being configured for connection to a cyclone separator particulate contaminate material outlet;

b) a transmitter transducer acoustically coupled to the vessel or positioned inside the vessel at a selected level and adapted to transmit an acoustic wave signal across at least a portion of a particulate contaminate material storage area inside the vessel;

c) a receiver acoustically coupled to the vessel or positioned inside the vessel at the selected level and adapted to receive the transmitted acoustic wave signal; and

,

d) a comparator connected to the receiver and adapted to generate a signal responsive to a change in the acoustic wave signal indicative of particulate contaminate material in the particulate contaminate material storage area at the selected level.