Electrophotography – Diagnostics – Log report
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-10
2001-05-15
Moses, Richard (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Diagnostics
Log report
C399S008000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233409
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention generally relates to replaceable components installable into printing devices, and more particularly, to printing device components having a memory.
BACKGROUND
Most types of printing devices are equipped with replaceable components that have a life cycle during which the replaceable components are functional. At the end of the life cycle of a replaceable component, the component must be replaced for the printing device to continue to function properly. Typically, a new replaceable component is ordered from a vendor to replace the component currently being used.
For example, a toner cartridge is installed in a laser printer to provide toner for the printing process. As documents are printed, the toner supply is gradually depleted. When the toner supply is completely exhausted, the printer cannot print any further documents until the toner cartridge is replaced. At this time, a replacement toner cartridge must be ordered from a toner cartridge vendor to replace the used toner cartridge.
A printer user has many toner cartridge vendors from which to choose when purchasing a toner cartridge to replace a depleted toner cartridge. Not only can the user purchase a toner cartridge from the printer manufacturer or an authorized reseller, but there are toner cartridges available from many vendors who remanufacture toner cartridges. Toner cartridges are remanufactured by taking a depleted toner cartridge and restoring it by replenishing the toner supply and replacing some deteriorated parts.
Because of the competitive nature of the market for toner cartridges, manufacturers, resellers and remanufacturers seek any opportunity to reach printer users with advertisements for their products and services. Many advertising avenues are used by vendors to advertise to potential customers. Vendors place advertisements in catalogues, magazines, trade journals, etc. Unfortunately, these conventional advertising avenues only reach a percentage of the target audience. In addition, the advertisements may be included with similar advertisements by competitors which diminishes the effect of the advertisement.
SUMMARY
A printing system provides a redundant reorder prevention function by indicating when a new component has been ordered to replace a replaceable component currently in use by the system. Before the new component is ordered, the system checks for an indication as to whether such a component has already been ordered.
If the system indicates that the new component has already been ordered, the system does not order another component. If the system indicates that a new component has not been previously ordered, a replaceable component is ordered and an indication is made that the replaceable component has been ordered so that a redundant order will not be subsequently placed.
Toner cartridges and other replaceable printer components are made which have memory placed on the cartridge itself or within the label affixed to the cartridge. This memory is used to store printer-related data that the printer reads to determine various printing parameters. For example, the memory may store the model number of the cartridge so that the printer may recognize the cartridge as valid or invalid for use with that printer.
This memory may also be utilized by a vendor to store the vendor's telephone number or Universal Resource Locator (URL) so the vendor can be automatically contacted by the user. This is not only a convenience for the user, but it provides the original vendor with an excellent opportunity to market subsequent toner cartridges to the user. This arrangement may be utilized in an automatic reorder system.
In one implementation, the memory has a field that is originally set to one value to indicate that a new component has not yet been ordered. When the new component is ordered, the field in the memory of the replaceable component is set to a second value to indicate that the new replaceable component has been ordered. If a subsequent event invokes the order system to order another component to replace the replaceable component in use, the order system first checks the memory field. If the field contains the first value, a new component is ordered and the field content is changed to the second value. If the field contains the second value when it is checked, no order is made.
In another implementation, the memory stores a component identifier. A system reads the component identifier when an order is made for a new component and compares the component identifier with a component identifier lookup table in memory resident within a host computer connected to the printing device or in a vendor system. If the component identifier is not found in the component identifier lookup table, a new component is ordered. If, however, the component identifier is found, a new component has already been ordered to replace the replaceable component currently in use, and no order is placed for a new replaceable component.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5873009 (1999-02-01), Yamashita et al.
patent: 6023593 (2000-02-01), Tomidokoro
Baumunk Mary B.
Boockholdt Darius
Haines Robert E.
Hewlett--Packard Company
Moses Richard
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