Electrophotography – Diagnostics – Unit or part identification
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-02
2001-10-09
Royer, William J. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Diagnostics
Unit or part identification
C399S024000, C399S027000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301449
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a process and device for making use of a replacement component. The invention also includes an apparatus generally employing the replacement component. The invention is applicable, for example, where an image forming apparatus such as a copier or laser printer employs a cartridge type toner bottle as the replacement component for dispensing toner during an image forming operation using the toner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Image forming apparatus employing powder, ink or similar toners require maintenance to replenish the toner repeatedly. A cartridge-type toner container is used as the replacement component for simplifying this work. In addition, consumables containing the toner, such as a developer unit, a photoconductive drum and the like, are used by themselves or in combination. Such consumables employ an expendable toner cartridge or a cartridge which is to be refilled with the toner.
In the field of image formation using toner, with expanded use of and increased demand for printers, copiers, facsimiles, microfilm reader printers and the like, the public demands continued improvement in printing and image quality.
In this connection, the public has become aware that the quality of printing and image formation varies depending upon the quality of the replacement components when they are used. Accordingly, each component replacement involves adjustment to reduce or eliminate such variations in quality. This results from the variations in use characteristics of the replacement components. For instance, powder toner may have variable chargeability depending upon the production lot, resulting in variations in image density or fogged images. Similar problems of varied use characteristics arise in the use of other replacement components, with the result that predetermined operating conditions are not stably achieved on occasion. A user must depend upon a service engineer to perform adjustments beyond the capability of the user, resulting in increased work for the service engineers and increased cost for users. This is inconvenient for users because it takes a long time before the adjustment is done.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the process and device for use of a replacement component and the work apparatus employing the same of this invention, differences between replacement components and set standard specifications or operating parameters can be determined so that the operation for proper use of the replacement component may be readily performed based on the varying characteristics of the replacement components. Hence, regardless of the varied characteristics of the replacement component, a predetermined type of operation may be performed in a stable manner using the loaded replacement component.
In the process device using the replacement component, in particular, each of the steps for proper use of the loaded replacement component is automatically performed, thus dispensing with steps done manually as well as key operations for effecting such steps. This provides convenience to both the service provider and the user. Additionally, the process device will not fail to operate properly or incur maintenance or operational problems as a result of the use of the replacement component.
The work apparatus permits each of the aforesaid means to automatically perform each corresponding step of the process for proper use of the loaded replacement component, thus accomplishing the predetermined operations in a stable manner despite the varied characteristics of the replacement component.
It is therefore, a feature of the invention to provide a process and device for use of a replacement component to provide proper operation based on information about the loaded replacement component, and to provide an apparatus employing the replacement component.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5596388 (1997-01-01), Ohkubo et al.
patent: 5634169 (1997-05-01), Barry et al.
patent: 5930553 (1999-07-01), Hirst et al.
patent: 5999759 (1999-12-01), Palumbo et al.
Minolta Co. , Ltd.
Morrison & Foerster LLP.
Royer William J.
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