Printing apparatus including components equipped with RFID wear monitoring devices
First Claim
1. A roller useful in printing including a device for monitoring wear of the roller comprising:
- a radio frequency identification chip attached to the roller; and
a sensor for monitoring wear of the roller, said sensor being in communication with said radio frequency identification chip.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for monitoring wear in a component, including a radio frequency identification chip attached with the component and a sensor configured to monitor wear of the component, the sensor being in communication with the radio frequency identification chip. The sensor may be embedded within the component and may include a plurality of circuits of varying lengths to measure different stages of wear. The monitoring device may be employed in a roller, such as the fuser roller in a printing apparatus. The roller may be constructed from a multiplicity of non-conductive layers in which portions of the layers are doped with a conductive material to form the plurality of circuits for sensing wear. The monitoring device may also be employed in a belt for use in a printing apparatus. A printing apparatus may also employ a roller or belt equipped with the monitoring device along with a control system for periodically reading the chip and collecting the wear data.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A roller useful in printing including a device for monitoring wear of the roller comprising:
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a radio frequency identification chip attached to the roller; and
a sensor for monitoring wear of the roller, said sensor being in communication with said radio frequency identification chip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A roller including a device for monitoring wear on a surface of the roller, comprising:
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a radio frequency identification chip attached to the roller; and
a sensor including at least one circuit disposed at a predetermined distance below said surface, said senor being in communication with said radio frequency identification chip wherein said at least one circuit wears as the roller wears and breaks as the roller is worn through. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A roller including a device for monitoring wear on a surface of the roller comprising:
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a radio frequency identification chip attached to the roller, and a sensor including at least one circuit disposed at a predetermined distance below said surface, said sensor being in communication with said radio frequency identification chip wherein said roller is constructed of a multiplicity of non-conductive layers built one upon another and wherein said at least one circuit comprises a conducive structure formed by doping adjacent portions of said layers with a conductive material, said at least one circuit wearing as the roller wears and breaking as the roller is worn through. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A flexible belt including a device for monitoring wear on a surface of the belt comprising:
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a radio frequency identification chip attached to the belt; and
a sensor including at least one circuit disposed at a predetermined distance below said surface, said sensor being in communication with said radio frequency identification chip wherein said at least one circuit wears as the belt wears and breaks as the belt is worn through. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A printing apparatus including a roller and a device for monitoring wear of said roller, comprising:
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a radio frequency identification chip attached to said roller, and a sensor configured to monitor wear of said roller, said sensor in communication with said radio frequency identification chip. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A printing apparatus including a flexible belt and a device for monitoring wear of said belt, comprising:
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a radio frequency identification chip attached to said belt; and
a sensor configured to monitor wear of said belt, said sensor being in communication with said radio frequency identification chip. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A fuser apparatus including a charge receptor roller, a fuser roller and a pressure roller and a device for monitoring wear of at least one of said rollers, comprising:
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a radio frequency identification chip attached to said at least one of said rollers; and
a sensor configured to monitor wear of said at least one of said rollers, said sensor being in communication with said radio frequency identification chip. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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42. A fuser apparatus according to claim 42, wherein each of said circuits is adapted to wear as said at least one of said rollers is worn through.
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44. A printing apparatus comprising, in combination:
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a stack of printable sheet material;
a fuser including a charge receptor roller;
a fuser roller; and
a pressure roller;
means for transferring said sheet material from said stack to said fuser;
a radio frequency identification chip attached to at least one of said rollers;
a sensor configured to monitor wear of said at least one of said rollers, said sensor being in communication with said radio frequency identification chip;
a device for reading data from said radio frequency identification chip, said data being indicative of wear of said at least one of said rollers;
a controller programmed to initiate reading and collecting said data at predetermined times, anda communication device operatively connected between said controller and said reading device. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification