Patent US5317367A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5317367A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal realtime clock
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1993-01-11
•
Granted: 1994-05-31
•
Expires: 2013-01-11
Abstract
Abstract A reprographic machine having a plurality of operating subsystems employs a setup procedure that prevents use for copying until all subsystems reach operating conditions. To avoid the need for time lost in the setup procedure where a power shut down is short, a bypass system, which senses the duration of the shut down, is utilized to allow prompt return to the copy function. Heated elements, such as fuser rolls, motors, and the like can be utilized to provide a timing function, based on temperature decay characteristics relative to time. The sensed temperature can be used as a control parameter for allowing bypass of the setup procedures.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel J. Pierce
- 👤 William P. Reese
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:46
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/50; G03G15/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A reprographic apparatus having a plurality of monitored subsystems comprising: a power switch actuatable between a power on position and a power off position; a setup system for determining the existence of operable conditions of each of said plurality of monitored subsystems when said power switch switches to said power on position, said setup system including enabling means for enabling operation of the reprographic apparatus when the setup systems determines that said plurality of monitored subsystems are operable, said setup system preventing operation of said apparatus until operability is determined; a timer for determining a time period that said power switch is in the off position; and bypass means for bypassing the setup system to enable operation of the reprographic apparatus in the absence of a determination of operable conditions at said monitored subsystem by said setup system when the time period that said power switch has been in the off position is determined to be less than a predetermined time interval.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A reprographic apparatus having a plurality of monitored subsystems comprising: a power switch actuatable between a power on position and a power off position; a setup system for determining the existence of operable conditions of each of said plurality of monitored subsystems when said power switch switches to said power on position, said setup system including enabling means for enabling operation of the reprographic apparatus when the setup systems determines that said plurality of monitored subsystems are operable, said setup system preventing operation of said apparatus until operability is determined; a timer for determining a time period that said power switch is in the off position; and bypass means for bypassing the setup system to enable operation of the reprographic apparatus in the absence of a determination of operable conditions at said monitored subsystem by said setup system when the time period that said power switch has been in the off position is determined to be less than a predetermined time interval.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The reprographic apparatus as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the monitored subsystems includes an element heated to a temperature above an ambient temperature within the reprographic apparatus during operation and the timing means includes means for determining the temperature of the heated element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The reprographic apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the element is a fuser roll.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The reprographic apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the element is an electric motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus having a plurality of monitored subsystems comprising: a setup system for determining the existence of operable conditions of each of said plurality of monitored subsystems, said set-up system including enabling means for enabling operation of the apparatus when the setup system determines that said plurality of monitored subsystems are operable; an element, located within one of said monitored subsystems, heated to a temperature above an ambient temperature during operation; and bypass means for bypassing the setup system to enable operation of the apparatus in the absence of a determination of operable conditions at said monitored subsystems by said setup system, said bypass means including timing means having means for determining the temperature of the heated element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus having a plurality of monitored subsystems comprising: a setup system for determining the existence of operable conditions of each of said plurality of monitored subsystems, said set-up system including enabling means for enabling operation of the apparatus when the setup system determines that said plurality of monitored subsystems are operable; an element, located within one of said monitored subsystems, heated to a temperature above an ambient temperature during operation; and bypass means for bypassing the setup system to enable operation of the apparatus in the absence of a determination of operable conditions at said monitored subsystems by said setup system, said bypass means including timing means having means for determining the temperature of the heated element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the element is electrically heated.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for controlling a reprographic apparatus having a plurality of monitored subsystems comprising the steps of: providing a setup system for determining the state of operability of each of the monitored subsystems; enabling production of a copy after the setup system determines that each subsystem is operable; temporarily interrupting power supplied to the reprographic apparatus; determining the time duration of the power interruption; and resuming apparatus operation after the temporary power interruption by bypassing the setup system to enable production of a copy when the determined time duration is less than a predetermined time period.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for controlling a reprographic apparatus having a plurality of monitored subsystems comprising the steps of: providing a setup system for determining the state of operability of each of the monitored subsystems; enabling production of a copy after the setup system determines that each subsystem is operable; temporarily interrupting power supplied to the reprographic apparatus; determining the time duration of the power interruption; and resuming apparatus operation after the temporary power interruption by bypassing the setup system to enable production of a copy when the determined time duration is less than a predetermined time period.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as in claim 7, wherein the step of determination of the time duration includes sensing the temperature of an element heated during operation of the reprographic apparatus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3893175A
Cited
US3849628A
Cited
US5021827A
Cited
US4556310A
Cited
US4318612A
Cited
US4668075A
Cited
US4870526A
Cited
US4801974A
Cited
US4881101A
Cited
US4958188A
Cited
US5023631A
Cited
US5038319A
Cited
US5170397A
Cited
US5087941A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-05-30 | 1997-11-29 | 1998-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-30 | 2001-11-29 | 2002-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-30 | 2005-11-29 | 2006-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |