AUTOMATED PRINTING OF RETURN LABELS

• US 20090125317A1
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Rommelmann, Heiko, Meyer, F. Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 7,882,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/330
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/32 Post and telecommunications franking apparatus G07B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00

Abstract

Embodiments herein provide for the automated printing of a shipping label as part of the software/memory of the customer replaceable unit (CRU). Such printing is controlled by information carried in the module itself. Thus, the embodiments work with exhaustible modules that include their own memory and potentially include their own module processor (that are contained within the exhaustible module and are separate from the memory and processor of the printing device).

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a graphic user interface operatively connected to said processor;

a printing engine operatively connected to said processor; and

at least one exhaustible module operatively connected to said processor and comprising an electronic memory storing a return address,

wherein said exhaustible module has a useful life shorter than a useful life of said apparatus, such that said exhaustible module is adapted to be regularly consumed and replaced a plurality of times during said useful life of said apparatus,

wherein, when a predetermined amount of said useful life of said exhaustible module has expired, said processor is adapted to;

automatically provide a module replacement notice on said graphic user interface; and

automatically print, using said printing engine, a return shipping label having said return address for use in shipping said exhaustible module after said exhaustible module is removed from said apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said module replacement notice includes a remaining useful life amount of said exhaustible module.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said return address is stored only in said electronic memory of said exhaustible module.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein, when a predetermined amount of said useful life of said exhaustible module has expired, said processor is further adapted to automatically order a replacement exhaustible module.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said exhaustible module comprises a module adapted to be replaced by end users of said apparatus.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a graphic user interface operatively connected to said processor;

a printing engine operatively connected to said processor; and

at least one exhaustible module operatively connected to said processor and comprising an electronic memory storing a return address,

wherein said exhaustible module has a useful life shorter than a useful life of said apparatus, such that said exhaustible module is adapted to be regularly consumed and replaced a plurality of times during said useful life of said apparatus,

wherein, when a predetermined amount of said useful life of said exhaustible module has expired, said exhaustible module is adapted to send a module replacement notice to said processor, wherein said module replacement notice includes said return address;

wherein, in response to said module exhaustion notice, said processor is adapted to;

automatically provide said module replacement notice to a user through said graphic user interface; and

automatically print, using said printing engine, a return shipping label having said return address for use in shipping said exhaustible module after said exhaustible module is removed from said apparatus.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said module replacement notice includes a remaining useful life amount of said exhaustible module, and wherein said processor is further adapted to provide said remaining useful life amount to said user through said graphic user interface.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said return address is stored only in said electronic memory of said exhaustible module.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein, in response to said module exhaustion notice, said processor is further adapted to automatically order a replacement exhaustible module.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said exhaustible module comprises a module adapted to be replaced by end users of said apparatus.

11. An apparatus comprising:

an exhaustible module for use within a printing apparatus; and

an electronic memory within said exhaustible module,

wherein said electronic memory is adapted to store a return address,

wherein said exhaustible module has a useful life shorter than a useful life of said printing apparatus, such that said exhaustible module is adapted to be regularly consumed and replaced a plurality of times during said useful life of said printing apparatus,

wherein, when a predetermined amount of said useful life of said exhaustible module has expired, said printing apparatus is adapted to;

automatically provide a module replacement notice on a graphic user interface of said printing apparatus; and

automatically print a return shipping label having said return address for use in shipping said exhaustible module after said exhaustible module is removed from said apparatus.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said module replacement notice includes a remaining useful life amount of said exhaustible module.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said return address is stored only in said electronic memory of said exhaustible module.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein, when a predetermined amount of said useful life of said exhaustible module has expired, said printing apparatus is further adapted to automatically order a replacement exhaustible module.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said exhaustible module comprises a module adapted to be replaced by end users of said printing apparatus.

16. An apparatus comprising:

an exhaustible module for use within a printing apparatus, wherein said printing apparatus has a central processor;

an electronic memory within said exhaustible module; and

a module processor within said exhaustible module,

wherein said electronic memory is adapted to store a return address,

wherein said exhaustible module has a useful life shorter than a useful life of said apparatus, such that said exhaustible module is adapted to be regularly consumed and replaced a plurality of times during said useful life of said apparatus,

wherein, when a predetermined amount of said useful life of said exhaustible module has expired, said module processor is adapted to send a module replacement notice to said central processor, wherein said module replacement notice includes said return address;

wherein, in response to said module exhaustion notice, said central processor is adapted to;

automatically provide said module replacement notice to a user through said graphic user interface; and

automatically print, using said printing engine, a return shipping label having said return address for use in shipping said exhaustible module after said exhaustible module is removed from said apparatus.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said module replacement notice includes a remaining useful life amount of said exhaustible module, and wherein said central processor is further adapted to provide said remaining useful life amount to a user through said graphic user interface.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said return address is stored only in said electronic memory of said exhaustible module.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein, in response to said module exhaustion notice, said central processor is further adapted to automatically order a replacement exhaustible module.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said apparatus comprises one of an electrostatographic device and a xerographic device.