US5321428A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser printer power saver
Assignee: PDACO Ltd
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Filing: 1992-09-04
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Granted: 1994-06-14
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Expires: 2012-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A system using a printer with a fuser-heater has control means for turning off the fuser-heater during times when no printing is required, while leaving the rest of the printing system operable. Time between print requests is monitored, and the fuser-heater is turned off when a preset time is reached without a print request. A next request turns the fuser-heater back on again. Data is accepted at a reduced rate while a heater warms up.
Inventors
- 👤 Pascal Dornier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:37
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/003; G09G5/006; G01; G01D; G01D15/00; G01D15/10; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/50; G03G15/5075; G03G15/5087; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3215; G06F1/3218; G06F1/3234; G06F1/325; G06F1/3265; G06F1/3284; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/12; B; B41; B41J; B41J29/00; B41J29/38; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/0005; G06K2215/0082; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A system for operating a printer having a fuser-heater comprising: means for initializing the printer by turning on the fuser-heater and printer circuitry, and readying the printer to accept print request and data; means for transmitting a print request and data to be printed to the printer; means for ascertaining, when a print request is received, whether the printer is initialized, and if it is, whether the fuser-heater is off, on but not at operating temperature, or on and at operating temperature; means for turning the fuser-heater on in response to the condition that a print request and data is received, the printer is initialized, and the fuser-heater is off; means for limiting the data acceptance rate at the printer to a rate less than the maximum rate in response to the printer being initialized and the fuser-heater being on and not at operating temperature, and accepting data at maximum rate in response to the printer being initialized and the fuser-heater being on and at operating temperature; means for measuring time in response to the condition that the printer is initialized, a print request and data is received, and the fuser-heater is on and at operating temperature, the measured time reset to zero each time a print request is received; and means for turning off the fuser-heater when the measured time reaches a preset maximum time without being reset to zero.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
231 words
A system for operating a printer having a fuser-heater comprising: means for initializing the printer by turning on the fuser-heater and printer circuitry, and readying the printer to accept print request and data; means for transmitting a print request and data to be printed to the printer; means for ascertaining, when a print request is received, whether the printer is initialized, and if it is, whether the fuser-heater is off, on but not at operating temperature, or on and at operating temperature; means for turning the fuser-heater on in response to the condition that a print request and data is received, the printer is initialized, and the fuser-heater is off; means for limiting the data acceptance rate at the printer to a rate less than the maximum rate in response to the printer being initialized and the fuser-heater being on and not at operating temperature, and accepting data at maximum rate in response to the printer being initialized and the fuser-heater being on and at operating temperature; means for measuring time in response to the condition that the printer is initialized, a print request and data is received, and the fuser-heater is on and at operating temperature, the measured time reset to zero each time a print request is received; and means for turning off the fuser-heater when the measured time reaches a preset maximum time without being reset to zero.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as in claim 1 further comprising user operable means for setting said preset maximum time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 1 comprising a host computer connected to the printer by a data transmission link.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
31 words
A system as in column 1 comprising a plurality of computers connected to one another and to at least one printer by a data transmission link operating on a network protocol.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
31 words
A system as in column 1 comprising a plurality of computers connected to one another and to at least one printer by a data transmission link operating on a network protocol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said means for turning off the fuser-heater comprises means for reducing power to the fuser heater to specific power levels at specific measured times as well as turning off the fuser heater.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
218 words
A printer comprising: a fuser-heater; means for initializing the printer in response to a remote signal by turning on the fuser-heater and printer circuitry, and readying the printer to accept print requests and data; means for ascertaining when a print request is received whether the printer is initialized, and if it is, whether the fuser-heater is off, on but not at operating temperature, or on and at operating temperature; means for turning the fuser-heater on in response to the conditions that a print request and data is received; the printer is initialized, and the fuser-heater is off: means for limiting the data acceptance rate at the printer to a rate less than the maximum rate in response to the printer being initialized and the fuser-heater being on and not at operating temperature, and accepting data at maximum rate in response to the printer being initialized and the fuser-heater being on and at operating temperature; means for measuring time in response to the condition that the printer is initialized, a print request and data is received, and the fuser-heater is on and at operating temperature, the measured time reset to zero each time a print request is received; and means for turning off the fuser-heater when the measured time reaches a preset maximum time without being reset to zero.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
218 words
A printer comprising: a fuser-heater; means for initializing the printer in response to a remote signal by turning on the fuser-heater and printer circuitry, and readying the printer to accept print requests and data; means for ascertaining when a print request is received whether the printer is initialized, and if it is, whether the fuser-heater is off, on but not at operating temperature, or on and at operating temperature; means for turning the fuser-heater on in response to the conditions that a print request and data is received; the printer is initialized, and the fuser-heater is off: means for limiting the data acceptance rate at the printer to a rate less than the maximum rate in response to the printer being initialized and the fuser-heater being on and not at operating temperature, and accepting data at maximum rate in response to the printer being initialized and the fuser-heater being on and at operating temperature; means for measuring time in response to the condition that the printer is initialized, a print request and data is received, and the fuser-heater is on and at operating temperature, the measured time reset to zero each time a print request is received; and means for turning off the fuser-heater when the measured time reaches a preset maximum time without being reset to zero.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A printer as in claim 6 further comprising user-operable means for setting said preset maximum time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A printer as in claim 6 wherein said means for turning off the fuser-heater comprises means for reducing power to the fuser heater to specific power levels at specific measured times as well as turning off the fuser heater.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for minimizing power use by an initialized printer having a fuser-heater comprising steps of: checking the status of the fuser-heater with each incoming print request as to whether the fuser-heater is off and the system is initialized, the fuser-heater is on and at operating temperature, or the fuser-heater is on and not at operating temperature; turning the fuser-heater on in response to the conditions that a print request and data is received, the printer is initialized, and the fuser-heater is off; limiting the data acceptance rate at the printer to a rate less than the maximum rate in response to the printer being initialized and the fuser-heater being on and not at operating temperature, and accepting data at maximum rate in response to the printer being initialized and the fuser-heater being on and at operating temperature; measuring time in response to the condition that the printer is initialized, a print request and data is received, and the fuser-heater is on and at operating temperature, the measured time reset to zero each time a print request is received; and turning off the fuser-heater when the measured time reaches a preset maximum time without being reset to zero.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for minimizing power use by an initialized printer having a fuser-heater comprising steps of: checking the status of the fuser-heater with each incoming print request as to whether the fuser-heater is off and the system is initialized, the fuser-heater is on and at operating temperature, or the fuser-heater is on and not at operating temperature; turning the fuser-heater on in response to the conditions that a print request and data is received, the printer is initialized, and the fuser-heater is off; limiting the data acceptance rate at the printer to a rate less than the maximum rate in response to the printer being initialized and the fuser-heater being on and not at operating temperature, and accepting data at maximum rate in response to the printer being initialized and the fuser-heater being on and at operating temperature; measuring time in response to the condition that the printer is initialized, a print request and data is received, and the fuser-heater is on and at operating temperature, the measured time reset to zero each time a print request is received; and turning off the fuser-heater when the measured time reaches a preset maximum time without being reset to zero.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising steps for reducing power to the fuser heater to specific power levels at specific measured times as well as for turning off the fuser heater.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-06-13 | 1997-12-13 | 1998-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-06-13 | 2001-12-13 | 2002-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-06-13 | 2005-12-13 | 2006-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |