US5339168A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Copier/duplicator network
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1991-12-31
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Granted: 1994-08-16
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Expires: 2011-12-31
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for reading data from each of a plurality of image duplicating devices comprises a plurality of image duplicating devices each having a two-way communications port for receiving and transmitting data and a processing device electronically coupled to the two-way communications port of each of the image duplicating devices for receiving information from and transmitting information to each of the image duplicating devices. The apparatus allows each image duplicating device to be operated simultaneously with the processing device.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene S. Evanitsky
- 👤 Tomlinson G. Rauscher
- 👤 Joseph Filion
- 👤 Douglas Sundquist
- 👤 Riley Warddrip
- 👤 Daniel Auman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:22
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/50; G03G15/5075; G03G15/5087; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00025; G03G2215/00109; G03G2215/00113
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
An image duplicating apparatus comprising: a plurality of image duplicating devices each having a two-way communications port for receiving and transmitting data; and a data processing device electronically coupled to the two-way communications port of each of the image duplicating devices for reading information from and transmitting information to each of the image duplicating devices, wherein the data processing device is capable of reading information from at least one of the image duplicating devices while said image duplicating device is performing an image duplicating operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
An image duplicating apparatus comprising: a plurality of image duplicating devices each having a two-way communications port for receiving and transmitting data; and a data processing device electronically coupled to the two-way communications port of each of the image duplicating devices for reading information from and transmitting information to each of the image duplicating devices, wherein the data processing device is capable of reading information from at least one of the image duplicating devices while said image duplicating device is performing an image duplicating operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the data processing device is a computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the two-way communications port is an RS232 type port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data processing device further includes means for printing data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one image duplicating machine is an electronic reprographic machine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data processing device is selectively coupleable to a remote monitoring station, such that data from the image duplicating machines is selectively readable by the remote monitoring station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the remote monitoring station is selectively coupleable to the data processing device via a telephone line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means, coupled to the data processing device, for electronically transmitting data to remote locations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the means for automatically transmitting data is a facsimile machine.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for reading data from and controlling a plurality of image duplicating machines, wherein each image duplicating machine includes a two-way communications port for receiving and transmitting data, comprising the steps of: electrically coupling a data processing device to the plurality of image duplicating machines via each image duplicating machine's respective two-way communications port; and executing a control program for controlling the data processing device for selectively reading and storing data from at least one of the image duplicating machines during an image duplicating operation and transmitting data to the image duplicating machines.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for reading data from and controlling a plurality of image duplicating machines, wherein each image duplicating machine includes a two-way communications port for receiving and transmitting data, comprising the steps of: electrically coupling a data processing device to the plurality of image duplicating machines via each image duplicating machine's respective two-way communications port; and executing a control program for controlling the data processing device for selectively reading and storing data from at least one of the image duplicating machines during an image duplicating operation and transmitting data to the image duplicating machines.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the image duplicating machines includes a plurality of memory locations which may be accessed by the data processing device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein the data processing device transmits data to the image duplicating machines to control the operation of the image duplicating machines upon execution of the control program.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of coupling the data processing device to a remote monitoring station, such that data from the image duplicating machines is selectively readable by the remote monitoring station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein at least one image duplicating machine is an electronic reprographic machine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of electronically coupling means for electronically transmitting image data to remote locations to the data processing device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the means for electronically transmitting image data to remote locations is a facsimile machine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
An image duplicating apparatus comprising: a plurality of image duplicating devices wherein each device includes a two-way communications port and a plurality of memory locations; and a data processing device electronically coupled to the two-way communications port of each of the image duplicating devices, the data processing device capable of reading information from the plurality of memory locations of at least one of the image duplicating devices during an image duplicating operation and providing an indication corresponding to a condition of said device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
83 words
An image duplicating apparatus comprising: a plurality of image duplicating devices wherein each device includes a two-way communications port and a plurality of memory locations; and a data processing device electronically coupled to the two-way communications port of each of the image duplicating devices, the data processing device capable of reading information from the plurality of memory locations of at least one of the image duplicating devices during an image duplicating operation and providing an indication corresponding to a condition of said device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The image duplicating apparatus of claim 17 wherein the data processing device further comprises a memory for storing an operational characteristic of each of the image duplicating devices.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The image duplicating apparatus of claim 18 wherein the data processing device is further capable of identifying an image duplicating device having a predetermined operational characteristic and indicating a current condition of the identified device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The image duplicating apparatus of claim 19 wherein the data processing device is linked to a network.
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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) | 1997-08-15 | 1998-02-14 | 1998-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-15 | 2002-02-14 | 2002-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-15 | 2006-02-14 | 2006-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |