Patent US5101233A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5101233A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrophotographic recording apparatus indicating a wear rate for consumable parts
Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-02-13
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Granted: 1992-03-31
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Expires: 2011-02-13
Abstract
Abstract In an electrophotographic recording device which includes a number of consumable parts, there is provided a first memory for storing a currently integrated total number of prints, and a number of prints at replacement of each consumable part. A second memory stores a number of lifetime prints, which is a conversion of the life of each part into a number of prints. A processor performs a first calculation to calculate a number of prints for replaced consumable parts after such replacement and a second calculation to calculate a wear rate of the replaced consumable parts from the number of lifetime prints read out from the second memory, and from the number of prints calculated by the first calculation. An indication section indicates the wear rate obtained from the second calculation. The number of prints stored in the first memory for the consumable parts at replacement is written into the current total number of prints.
Inventors
- 👤 Katsuyuki Ito
- 👤 Naoji Akutsu
- 👤 Takehiko Okubo
- 👤 Koichi Negishi
- 👤 Kazuhiko Itoh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:18
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/55; G03G15/553; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1663; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An electrophotographic recording apparatus comprising: (a) a number of consumable parts; (b) a first storing means for storing a currently integrated total number of prints, and a number of prints at replacement of each consumable part; (c) a second storing means for storing a number of lifetime prints, which is a conversion of the life of each part into a number of prints; (d) a first calculating means for calculating a number of prints for replaced consumable parts after such replacement; (e) a second calculating means for calculating a wear rate of the replaced consumable parts from the number of lifetime prints read out from the second storing means, and from the number of prints calculated by the first calculating means; (f) an indication section for indicating the wear rate obtained from the second calculating means; and (g) a writing means for writing the number of prints stored in the first storing means for the consumable parts at replacement into the current total number of prints.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
An electrophotographic recording apparatus comprising: (a) a number of consumable parts; (b) a first storing means for storing a currently integrated total number of prints, and a number of prints at replacement of each consumable part; (c) a second storing means for storing a number of lifetime prints, which is a conversion of the life of each part into a number of prints; (d) a first calculating means for calculating a number of prints for replaced consumable parts after such replacement; (e) a second calculating means for calculating a wear rate of the replaced consumable parts from the number of lifetime prints read out from the second storing means, and from the number of prints calculated by the first calculating means; (f) an indication section for indicating the wear rate obtained from the second calculating means; and (g) a writing means for writing the number of prints stored in the first storing means for the consumable parts at replacement into the current total number of prints.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrophotographic recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first storing means is a RAM.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrophotographic recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second storing means is a ROM.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electrophotographic recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first calculating means, the second calculating means, and the writing means are structured in a central processing unit (CPU).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
An electrophotographic recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first calculating means is so structured that the calculated values of the difference between the current total number of prints and the number of prints at replacement, which are respectively read out from the first storing means, are output as the number of post-replacement prints.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electrophotographic recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first calculating means is so structured that the current total number of prints read out from the first storing means is incremented by "1" at each printing, and that the calculated difference between the current total number of prints incremented by "1", and the number of prints at replacement read out from the first storing means are output as the number of post-replacement prints.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electrophotographic recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second calculating means is so structured that, when the number of post-replacement prints does not exceed the number of lifetime prints, the difference between both numbers of prints is output as a percentage of the number of lifetime prints, as the wear rate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electrophotographic recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second calculating means is so structured that, when the number of post-replacement prints is greater than or equal to the number of lifetime prints, the wear rate is output as a signal to indicate that the replaced consumable part has reached the end of its life.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-31 | 1995-09-30 | 1996-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-31 | 1999-09-30 | 2000-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-31 | 2003-09-30 | 2004-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |