US5383004A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Normalizing sheet count to predict hardware replacement intervals
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1993-09-13
•
Granted: 1995-01-17
•
Expires: 2013-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A method of normalizing the count in a counter depending upon the type or size of the copy sheets processed in an electronic image processing machine including the steps of determining the size or type of copy sheets in process in the machine, recording a count in the counter in response to the size or type of copy sheets in process, normalizing the count in the counter as a function of the change in size or type of the copy sheets in process, and relating the normalized counts to the need to replace selected components of the image processing machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald L. Miller
- 👤 William M. OuYang
- 👤 Phillip E. Chapman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:20
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/55; G03G15/553; G03G15/50; G03G15/5075; G03G15/5079; G03G21/00; G03G21/02; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00025; G03G2215/00109
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
In an electronic image processing machine having a plurality of image processing components including a controller for producing images on copy sheets of varying size, one of the processing components being a photosensitive member for supporting latent images of varying sizes, the size of the latent image being defined as the machine pitch, the controller including a device for counting the number of copy sheets processed, the method of normalizing the count in the device depending upon the pitch of the machine comprising the steps of: determining the pitch of images in process, recording a count in the counter in response to the pitch of images in process, and normalizing the count in the counter as a function of the change in pitch of the images in process.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
In an electronic image processing machine having a plurality of image processing components including a controller for producing images on copy sheets of varying size, one of the processing components being a photosensitive member for supporting latent images of varying sizes, the size of the latent image being defined as the machine pitch, the controller including a device for counting the number of copy sheets processed, the method of normalizing the count in the device depending upon the pitch of the machine comprising the steps of: determining the pitch of images in process, recording a count in the counter in response to the pitch of images in process, and normalizing the count in the counter as a function of the change in pitch of the images in process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of normalizing the count is a function of the number of successive images of a given pitch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
In an electronic image processing apparatus having a plurality of image processing components including a controller for producing images on copy sheets of varying size, the controller including a counter for recording copy sheets processed, the wear of the components being related to the size of copy sheets, the method of adjusting the count in the counter depending the size of the copy sheet as a measure of the wear of selected components comprising the steps of: recording a first count in the counter in response to a first size copy sheet, and recording a second count in the counter in response to a second size copy sheet, the second count in the counter in response to a second size copy sheet being a function of the ratio of the first size copy sheet to the second size copy sheet in order to predict the wear of said selected components.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
150 words
In an electronic image processing apparatus having a plurality of image processing components including a controller for producing images on copy sheets of varying size, the controller including a counter for recording copy sheets processed, the wear of the components being related to the size of copy sheets, the method of adjusting the count in the counter depending the size of the copy sheet as a measure of the wear of selected components comprising the steps of: recording a first count in the counter in response to a first size copy sheet, and recording a second count in the counter in response to a second size copy sheet, the second count in the counter in response to a second size copy sheet being a function of the ratio of the first size copy sheet to the second size copy sheet in order to predict the wear of said selected components.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the second count is a function of the number of successive second size copy sheets in process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 including the step of recording a third count in the counter in response to a third size copy sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
In an electronic image processing machine having a plurality of image processing components including a controller for producing images on copy sheets of varying size, the controller including a device for counting the number of copy sheets processed, the method of normalizing the count in the device depending upon the size of the copy sheets processed comprising the steps of: determining the size of copy sheets in process, recording a count in the counter in response to the size of copy sheets in process, and normalizing the count in the counter as a function of the change in size of the copy sheets in process.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
In an electronic image processing machine having a plurality of image processing components including a controller for producing images on copy sheets of varying size, the controller including a device for counting the number of copy sheets processed, the method of normalizing the count in the device depending upon the size of the copy sheets processed comprising the steps of: determining the size of copy sheets in process, recording a count in the counter in response to the size of copy sheets in process, and normalizing the count in the counter as a function of the change in size of the copy sheets in process.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
An electronic image processing machine having a plurality of image processing components including a controller for producing images on copy sheets of varying size comprising: a counter interconnected to the controller for counting copy sheets in process including, means for recording a count in the counter in response to a copy sheet in process, a sensor for determining the size of a copy sheet in process, and logic means for normalizing the count in the counter as a function of the change in size of the copy sheets in process being sensed by the sensor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
95 words
An electronic image processing machine having a plurality of image processing components including a controller for producing images on copy sheets of varying size comprising: a counter interconnected to the controller for counting copy sheets in process including, means for recording a count in the counter in response to a copy sheet in process, a sensor for determining the size of a copy sheet in process, and logic means for normalizing the count in the counter as a function of the change in size of the copy sheets in process being sensed by the sensor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
In an electronic image processing machine having a plurality of image processing components including a controller for producing images on copy sheets of varying size, the controller including a device for counting the number of copy sheets processed, the controller being interconnected to a remote station over a network, the method of transmitting usage data to the remote station comprising the steps of: determining the size of copy sheets in process, recording a count in the counter in response to the size of copy sheets in process, normalizing the count in the counter as a function of the change in size of the copy sheets in process, and transmitting the normalized count to the remote station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
In an electronic image processing machine having a plurality of image processing components including a controller for producing images on copy sheets of varying size, the controller including a device for counting the number of copy sheets processed, the controller being interconnected to a remote station over a network, the method of transmitting usage data to the remote station comprising the steps of: determining the size of copy sheets in process, recording a count in the counter in response to the size of copy sheets in process, normalizing the count in the counter as a function of the change in size of the copy sheets in process, and transmitting the normalized count to the remote station.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the remote station includes a display for analyzing said normalized count.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
119 words
In an electronic image processing machine having a plurality of image processing components including a controller for producing images on copy sheets of varying size, the controller including a device for counting the number of copy sheets processed, the controller being interconnected to a remote station over a network, the method of transmitting usage data to the remote station comprising the steps of: determining the size of copy sheets in process, recording a count in the counter in response to the size of copy sheets in process, transmitting the count to the remote station, and normalizing the count in the counter at the remote station as a function of the change in size of the copy sheets in process.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
119 words
In an electronic image processing machine having a plurality of image processing components including a controller for producing images on copy sheets of varying size, the controller including a device for counting the number of copy sheets processed, the controller being interconnected to a remote station over a network, the method of transmitting usage data to the remote station comprising the steps of: determining the size of copy sheets in process, recording a count in the counter in response to the size of copy sheets in process, transmitting the count to the remote station, and normalizing the count in the counter at the remote station as a function of the change in size of the copy sheets in process.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
105 words
In an electronic image processing machine having a plurality of image processing components including a controller for producing images on various types of copy sheets, the controller including a device for counting the number of copy sheets processed, the method of normalizing the count in the device depending upon the type of the copy sheets processed comprising the steps of: determining the type of copy sheets in process, recording a count in the counter in response to the type of copy sheets in process, and normalizing the count in the counter as a function of the change in type of the copy sheets in process.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
105 words
In an electronic image processing machine having a plurality of image processing components including a controller for producing images on various types of copy sheets, the controller including a device for counting the number of copy sheets processed, the method of normalizing the count in the device depending upon the type of the copy sheets processed comprising the steps of: determining the type of copy sheets in process, recording a count in the counter in response to the type of copy sheets in process, and normalizing the count in the counter as a function of the change in type of the copy sheets in process.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11 including the step of relating the count in the counter to a threshold count for each of the image processing components.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the threshold count for each of the image processing components is different.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 including the step of manifesting that the count in the counter exceeds the threshold count for a given component.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of manifesting includes the step of displaying the count in the counter.
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) | 1998-01-16 | 1998-07-18 | 1999-01-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-16 | 2002-07-18 | 2003-01-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-16 | 2006-07-18 | 2007-01-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |