US5489971A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for detecting an exchange period for parts within an electrophotographic printing apparatus
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1994-05-24
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Granted: 1996-02-06
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Expires: 2014-05-24
Abstract
Abstract An improved method and apparatus for monitoring the amount of use sustained by a replaceable part within an electrophotographic printing apparatus is disclosed. In response to a print command, a controller reads data from a permanent memory within the replaceable part. The data, which indicates how much use the replaceable part has sustained, is then stored in a buffer within the controller. The data is then incremented by one for each page printed by the printing apparatus. Once the data equals or exceeds a predetermined use value indicative of the operational lifetime of the replaceable part, a user is informed of this condition through a replacement message.
Inventors
- 👤 Byung-Deok Nam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:10
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/55; G03G15/553; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1663
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for monitoring an amount of use sustained by a replaceable part within an electrophotographic printing device, said apparatus comprising: first storage means permanently installed within said replaceable part for storing use data indicative of the amount of use sustained by said replaceable part, said replaceable part having a fixed operational lifetime; means for incrementing said use data stored in said first storage means, said use data being incremented by one in response to each page printed by said electrophotographic printing device; second storage means for storing predetermined replacement data, said predetermined replacement data indicative of how much use said replaceable part should sustain before replacement; and control means for comparing a value indicated by said use data stored in said first storage means with a value indicated by said predetermined replacement data stored in said second storage means, said control means informing a user that said fixed operational lifetime of said replaceable part has expired when said value indicated by said use data one of exceeds and equals said value indicated by said predetermined replacement data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for monitoring an amount of use sustained by a replaceable part within an electrophotographic printing device, said apparatus comprising: first storage means permanently installed within said replaceable part for storing use data indicative of the amount of use sustained by said replaceable part, said replaceable part having a fixed operational lifetime; means for incrementing said use data stored in said first storage means, said use data being incremented by one in response to each page printed by said electrophotographic printing device; second storage means for storing predetermined replacement data, said predetermined replacement data indicative of how much use said replaceable part should sustain before replacement; and control means for comparing a value indicated by said use data stored in said first storage means with a value indicated by said predetermined replacement data stored in said second storage means, said control means informing a user that said fixed operational lifetime of said replaceable part has expired when said value indicated by said use data one of exceeds and equals said value indicated by said predetermined replacement data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein said value indicated by said use data is registered in said first storage means when said value indicated by said use data does not one of exceed and equal said predetermined replacement data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 2, wherein said first storage means is a nonvolatile electrically erasable programmable read only memory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein said replaceable part is one of a photosensitive drum and a developing unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of said second storage means being permanently installed within said control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of said control means for comparing said value indicated by said use data stored in said first storage means with said value indicated by said predetermined replacement data stored in said second storage means after each said page printed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprised of said first storage means of said replaceable part storing and maintaining a current state of said use data when said replaceable part is removed from said electrophotographic printing device and reinstalled into another printing device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of said first storage means of said replaceable part storing and maintaining a current state of said use data when said replaceable part is removed from said electrophotographic printing device and reinstalled into another printing device.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for monitoring an amount of use sustained by a replaceable part within an electrophotographic printing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: reading use data indicative of the amount of use sustained by said replaceable part from a memory portion within said replaceable part in response to a print command; increasing a value indicated by said use data by one for each page printed in response to said print command; comparing, after each said page printed, said value indicated by said use data with a predetermined replacement value, said predetermined replacement value indicating a number of pages that can printed by said electrophotographic printing apparatus before said replaceable part should be replaced; and informing a user that said replaceable part should be replaced when said value indicated by said use data one of exceeds and equals said predetermined replacement value.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for monitoring an amount of use sustained by a replaceable part within an electrophotographic printing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: reading use data indicative of the amount of use sustained by said replaceable part from a memory portion within said replaceable part in response to a print command; increasing a value indicated by said use data by one for each page printed in response to said print command; comparing, after each said page printed, said value indicated by said use data with a predetermined replacement value, said predetermined replacement value indicating a number of pages that can printed by said electrophotographic printing apparatus before said replaceable part should be replaced; and informing a user that said replaceable part should be replaced when said value indicated by said use data one of exceeds and equals said predetermined replacement value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method claimed in claim 9, further comprising a step of storing said value indicated by said use data in said memory portion within said replaceable part when said value indicated by said use data does not one of exceed and equal said predetermined replacement value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method claimed in claim 9, wherein said step of informing the user is performed by displaying a replacement message on a variable visual display.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method claimed in claim 9, wherein said step of informing the user is performed by producing an audible signal through sound generation means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method claimed in claim 9, wherein said memory portion within said replaceable part comprises a nonvolatile electrically erasable programmable read only memory.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a step of removing said replaceable part from said electrophotographic printing apparatus and reinstalling said replaceable part into another printing apparatus while maintaining a current state of said use data.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for monitoring an amount of use sustained by a replaceable part within an electrophotographic printing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: reading use data indicative of the amount of use sustained by said replaceable part from a memory portion within said replaceable part in response to a print command and storing said use data in a control buffer; incrementing a value indicated by said use data by one for each page printed in response to said print command; comparing, after each said page printed, said value indicated by said use data with a predetermined replacement value, said predetermined replacement value indicating a number of pages that can printed by said electrophotographic printing apparatus before said replaceable part should be replaced; and storing said value indicated by said use data in said memory portion within said replaceable part when said value indicated by said use data does not one of exceed and equal said predetermined replacement value.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for monitoring an amount of use sustained by a replaceable part within an electrophotographic printing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: reading use data indicative of the amount of use sustained by said replaceable part from a memory portion within said replaceable part in response to a print command and storing said use data in a control buffer; incrementing a value indicated by said use data by one for each page printed in response to said print command; comparing, after each said page printed, said value indicated by said use data with a predetermined replacement value, said predetermined replacement value indicating a number of pages that can printed by said electrophotographic printing apparatus before said replaceable part should be replaced; and storing said value indicated by said use data in said memory portion within said replaceable part when said value indicated by said use data does not one of exceed and equal said predetermined replacement value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method claimed in claim 15, further comprising a step of informing a user that said replaceable part should be replaced when said value indicated by said use data one of exceeds and equals said predetermined replacement value.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method claimed in claim 16, wherein said step of informing the user is performed by displaying a replacement message on a variable visual display.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method claimed in claim 16, wherein said step of informing the user is performed by producing an audible signal through sound generation means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method claimed in claim 15, wherein said memory portion within said replaceable part comprises a nonvolatile electrically erasable programmable read only memory.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a step of removing said replaceable part from said electrophotographic printing apparatus and reinstalling said replaceable part into another printing apparatus while maintaining a current state of said use data.
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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) | 1999-02-05 | 1999-08-07 | 2000-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-05 | 2003-08-07 | 2004-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-05 | 2007-08-07 | 2008-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |