US5459556A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toner consumption rate gauge for printers and copiers
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1994-01-12
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Granted: 1995-10-17
•
Expires: 2014-01-12
Abstract
Abstract A toner meter for determining a rate of toner usage per print in a printing machine of the type having operator actuatable settings effecting the rate of toner usage per print. The meter has a controller for calculating the rate of toner usage per print responsive to actuation of an operator actuatable setting and a indicator in communication with the controller, for indicating the calculated rate of toner usage.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Acquaviva
- 👤 Michael A. Garofalo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:25
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/50; G03G15/5016; G03G15/502
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A toner meter for determining a rate of toner usage per print in a printing machine of the type having operator actuatable settings effecting the rate of toner usage per print, comprising: a controller for calculating the rate of toner usage per print responsive to actuation of an operator actuatable setting; and means, in communication with said controller, for displaying the calculated rate of toner usage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A toner meter for determining a rate of toner usage per print in a printing machine of the type having operator actuatable settings effecting the rate of toner usage per print, comprising: a controller for calculating the rate of toner usage per print responsive to actuation of an operator actuatable setting; and means, in communication with said controller, for displaying the calculated rate of toner usage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
A toner meter for determining a rate of toner usage per print in a printing machine of the type having operator actuatable settings effecting the rate of toner usage per print, comprising: a controller for calculating the rate of toner usage per print responsive to actuation of an operator actuatable setting; and means, in communication with said controller, for indicating the calculated rate of toner usage, wherein one of the operator actuatable settings comprises a switch adapted to transmit a signal indicating that the platen is opened or closed to said controller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
A toner meter for determining a rate of toner usage per print in a printing machine of the type having operator actuatable settings effecting the rate of toner usage per print, comprising: a controller for calculating the rate of toner usage per print responsive to actuation of an operator actuatable setting; and means, in communication with said controller, for indicating the calculated rate of toner usage, wherein one of the operator actuatable settings comprises a switch adapted to transmit a signal indicating that the platen is opened or closed to said controller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A toner meter as in claim 1, wherein one of the operator actuatable settings comprises means for transmitting a signal indicating a setting corresponding to copy lighter or copy darker to said controller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A toner meter as in claim 1, wherein one of the operator actuatable settings comprises means for transmitting a signal indicating a setting corresponding to light original or dark original to said controller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A toner meter as in claim 1, wherein one of the operator actuatable settings comprises means for transmitting a signal indicating a setting corresponding to large document or small document to said controller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A toner meter as in claim 1, wherein one of the operator actuatable settings comprises means for transmitting a signal indicating a setting corresponding to percentage magnification or percentage reduction to said controller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A toner meter as in claim 1, wherein one of the operator actuatable settings comprises means for transmitting a signal indicating a setting corresponding to number of copies per job to said controller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A toner meter as in claim 1, wherein said indicating means comprises a liquid crystal display.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A toner meter as in claim 1, wherein said indicating means comprises a cathode ray tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A toner meter as in claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a logic circuit having a weighting factor assigned to each-of the operator actuatable settings with the rate of toner usage being a function of the weighting factor and operator actuatable setting.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A toner meter as in claim 1, wherein said controller calculates an average toner consumption rate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A toner meter as in claim 1, wherein said controller calculates toner cartridge life.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
A printing machine of the type having operator actuatable settings effecting the rate of toner usage per print, the machine comprising: a controller for calculating the rate of toner usage per print responsive to actuation of an operator actuatable setting; and means, in communication with said controller, for displaying the calculated rate of toner usage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A printing machine of the type having operator actuatable settings effecting the rate of toner usage per print, the machine comprising: a controller for calculating the rate of toner usage per print responsive to actuation of an operator actuatable setting; and means, in communication with said controller, for displaying the calculated rate of toner usage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
81 words
A printing machine of the type having operator actuatable settings effecting the rate of toner usage per print, the machine comprising: a controller for calculating the rate of toner usage per print responsive to actuation of an operator actuatable setting; and means, in communication with said controller, for indicating the calculated rate of toner usage, wherein one of the operator actuatable settings comprises a switch adapted to transmit a signal indicating that the platen is opened or closed to said controller.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
A printing machine of the type having operator actuatable settings effecting the rate of toner usage per print, the machine comprising: a controller for calculating the rate of toner usage per print responsive to actuation of an operator actuatable setting; and means, in communication with said controller, for indicating the calculated rate of toner usage, wherein one of the operator actuatable settings comprises a switch adapted to transmit a signal indicating that the platen is opened or closed to said controller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A printing machine as in claim 13, wherein one of the operator actuatable settings comprises means for transmitting a signal indicating a setting corresponding to copy lighter or copy darker to said controller.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A printing machine as in claim 13, wherein one of the operator actuatable settings comprises means for transmitting a signal indicating a setting corresponding to light original or dark original to said controller.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A printing machine as in claim 13, wherein one of the operator actuatable settings comprises means for transmitting a signal indicating a setting corresponding to large document or small document to said controller.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A printing machine as in claim 13, wherein one of the operator actuatable settings comprises means for transmitting a signal indicating a setting corresponding to percentage magnification or percentage reduction to said controller.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A printing machine as in claim 13, wherein one of the operator actuatable settings comprises means for transmitting a signal indicating a setting corresponding to number of copies per job to said controller.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A printing machine as in claim 13, wherein said indicating means comprises a liquid crystal display.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
A printing machine as in claim 13, wherein said indicating means comprises a cathode ray tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
A printing machine as in claim 13, wherein said controller comprises a logic circuit having a weighting factor assigned to each of the operator actuatable settings with the rate of toner usage being a function of the weighting factor and operator actuatable setting.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A printing machine as in claim 13, wherein said controller calculates an average toner consumption rate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
A printing machine as in claim 13, wherein said controller calculates toner cartridge life.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for determining a rate of toner usage per print in a printing machine of the type having operator actuatable settings effecting the rate of toner usage per print, the method comprising the steps of: actuating of an operator actuatable setting; transmitting a signal indicative of said setting; receiving said signal at a controller; calculating the rate of toner usage per print responsive to actuation of an operator actuatable setting; and displaying the calculated rate of toner usage.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for determining a rate of toner usage per print in a printing machine of the type having operator actuatable settings effecting the rate of toner usage per print, the method comprising the steps of: actuating of an operator actuatable setting; transmitting a signal indicative of said setting; receiving said signal at a controller; calculating the rate of toner usage per print responsive to actuation of an operator actuatable setting; and displaying the calculated rate of toner usage.
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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) | 1998-10-16 | 1999-04-17 | 1999-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-16 | 2003-04-17 | 2003-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-16 | 2007-04-17 | 2007-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |