US5534974A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printing apparatus performing bidirectional communication with a plurality of user terminals
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1994-10-18
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Granted: 1996-07-09
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Expires: 2014-10-18
Abstract
Abstract There is provided a printing apparatus in which a paper-supplying tray being used by one user is not allowed to be used by the other users. The printing apparatus is used by a plurality of users by means of bidirectional communication. One or more paper-supplying trays are provided in the printer. One of the paper-supplying trays is designated by one of the users so that the one of the paper-supplying trays is exclusively used by the one of the users. When the one of the paper-supplying trays currently being exclusively used is designated by another user, the fact that the designated one of the paper-supplying trays is occupied is notified to the another user.
Inventors
- 👤 Hironobu Hasegawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:15
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6502; G03G15/6508; B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/44; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/16; B65H2511/00; B65H2511/40; B65H2511/412; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A printing system used by a plurality of users, said printing system comprising a printing apparatus and at least one host apparatus communicating with said printing apparatus by means of bidirectional communication, said printing system comprising; one or more paper-supplying trays for supplying recording papers to be printed; tray-designating means for designating one of the paper-supplying trays, said one of the paper-supplying trays being designated by one of the users through said host apparatus, said one of the paper supplying-trays designated by said tray-designating means being exclusively used by said one of the users; and notifying means for notifying another of the users through said host apparatus, when one of the paper-supplying trays currently being exclusively used is designated by said another of the users, the fact that the designated one of the paper-supplying trays is occupied.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A printing system used by a plurality of users, said printing system comprising a printing apparatus and at least one host apparatus communicating with said printing apparatus by means of bidirectional communication, said printing system comprising; one or more paper-supplying trays for supplying recording papers to be printed; tray-designating means for designating one of the paper-supplying trays, said one of the paper-supplying trays being designated by one of the users through said host apparatus, said one of the paper supplying-trays designated by said tray-designating means being exclusively used by said one of the users; and notifying means for notifying another of the users through said host apparatus, when one of the paper-supplying trays currently being exclusively used is designated by said another of the users, the fact that the designated one of the paper-supplying trays is occupied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The printing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an information table is provided for identifying a status of each of said paper-supplying trays, contents of said information table including user identifications corresponding to respective users who are currently occupying respective ones of the paper-supplying trays.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The printing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the contents of said information table include information on an availability of recording papers and a paper size stored in each of the paper-supplying trays.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
145 words
A printing system used by a plurality of users, said printing system comprising a printing apparatus and at least one host apparatus communicating with said printing apparatus by means of bidirectional communication, said printing system comprising; one or more paper-supplying trays for supplying recording papers to be printed; tray-designating means for designating one of the paper-supplying trays, said one of the paper-supplying trays being designated by one of the users through said host apparatus, said one of the paper-supplying trays designated by said tray-designating means being exclusively used by said one of the users; and notifying means for notifying said one of the users through said host apparatus, when said one of the paper-supplying trays currently being exclusively used is designated by another of the users, the fact that said one of the paper-supplying trays exclusively used is designated by said another of the users.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
145 words
A printing system used by a plurality of users, said printing system comprising a printing apparatus and at least one host apparatus communicating with said printing apparatus by means of bidirectional communication, said printing system comprising; one or more paper-supplying trays for supplying recording papers to be printed; tray-designating means for designating one of the paper-supplying trays, said one of the paper-supplying trays being designated by one of the users through said host apparatus, said one of the paper-supplying trays designated by said tray-designating means being exclusively used by said one of the users; and notifying means for notifying said one of the users through said host apparatus, when said one of the paper-supplying trays currently being exclusively used is designated by another of the users, the fact that said one of the paper-supplying trays exclusively used is designated by said another of the users.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The printing system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising canceling means for canceling a designation of said one of the paper-supplying trays made by said one of the users after a notification is given to said one of the users by said notifying means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The printing system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising means for enabling a use of said one of the paper-supplying trays for another of the users by canceling a designation for said one of the paper-supplying trays and effecting a designation made by said another of the users.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The printing system as claimed in claim 4, wherein an information table is provided for identifying a status of each of said paper-supplying trays, contents of said information table including user identification corresponding to respective users who are currently occupying respective ones of the paper-supplying trays.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The printing system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the contents of said information table include information on an availability of recording papers and a paper size stored in each of the paper-supplying trays.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
176 words
A printing system used by a plurality of users, said printing system comprising a printing apparatus and at least one host apparatus communicating with said printing apparatus by means of bidirectional communication, said printing system comprising; one or more paper-supplying trays for supplying recording papers to be printed; tray-designating means for designating one of the paper-supplying trays, said one of the paper-supplying trays being designated by one of the users through said host apparatus, said one of the paper-supplying trays designated by said tray-designating means being exclusively used by said one of the users, the designation of said one of the paper-supplying trays being made by either one of a fixed mode or a non-fixed mode, a single paper-supplying tray being designated by said fixed mode, any one of the paper-supplying trays storing the recording papers of the same size being designated by said non-fixed mode; and means for selecting one of the paper-supplying trays which is not designated by said fixed mode when a designation of the paper-supplying trays is made by said non-fixed mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
176 words
A printing system used by a plurality of users, said printing system comprising a printing apparatus and at least one host apparatus communicating with said printing apparatus by means of bidirectional communication, said printing system comprising; one or more paper-supplying trays for supplying recording papers to be printed; tray-designating means for designating one of the paper-supplying trays, said one of the paper-supplying trays being designated by one of the users through said host apparatus, said one of the paper-supplying trays designated by said tray-designating means being exclusively used by said one of the users, the designation of said one of the paper-supplying trays being made by either one of a fixed mode or a non-fixed mode, a single paper-supplying tray being designated by said fixed mode, any one of the paper-supplying trays storing the recording papers of the same size being designated by said non-fixed mode; and means for selecting one of the paper-supplying trays which is not designated by said fixed mode when a designation of the paper-supplying trays is made by said non-fixed mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The printing system as claimed in claim 9, wherein an information table is provided for identifying a status of each of said paper-supplying trays, contents of said information table including user identifications corresponding to respective users who are currently occupying respective ones of the paper-supplying trays.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The printing system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the contents of said information table include information on an availability of recording papers and a paper size stored in each of the paper-supplying trays.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1999-07-09 | 2000-01-08 | 2000-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-09 | 2004-01-08 | 2004-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-09 | 2008-01-08 | 2008-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |