Monitor/warranty system for electrostatographic reproducing machines using replaceable cartridges
First Claim
1. A monitor/warranty method for an electrostatographic reproducing machine having at least one replaceable cartridge warranted to produce a predetermined number of images, and an operating system for controlling operation of said machine including job programming means for programming image runs, said cartridge including an on-board memory for monitoring cartridge use, comprising the steps of:
- (a) counting the images produced;
(b) accessing said cartridge memory to obtain a current image count of the number of images remaining on said cartridge and a predetermined termination image count reflecting the maximum number of images that can be produced by said cartridge;
(c) arithmetically updating said current image count with the count of images produced during said run;
(d) storing said updated current image count in said cartridge memory;
(e) comparing said updated current image count with said termination count; and
(f) where said updated current image count is at least equal to said termination count, disabling said cartridge from further use.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A monitor/warranty system for electrostatographic reproducing machines in which replaceable cartridges providing a predetermined number of images are used, each cartridge having an EEPROM programmed with a cartridge identification number that when matched with a cartridge identification number in the machine enables machine operation, a cartridge replacement warning count, and a termination count at which the cartridge is disabled from further use, the EEPROM storing updated counts of the remaining number of images left on the cartridge after each print run.
536 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A monitor/warranty method for an electrostatographic reproducing machine having at least one replaceable cartridge warranted to produce a predetermined number of images, and an operating system for controlling operation of said machine including job programming means for programming image runs, said cartridge including an on-board memory for monitoring cartridge use, comprising the steps of:
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(a) counting the images produced; (b) accessing said cartridge memory to obtain a current image count of the number of images remaining on said cartridge and a predetermined termination image count reflecting the maximum number of images that can be produced by said cartridge; (c) arithmetically updating said current image count with the count of images produced during said run; (d) storing said updated current image count in said cartridge memory; (e) comparing said updated current image count with said termination count; and (f) where said updated current image count is at least equal to said termination count, disabling said cartridge from further use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A replaceable cartridge for a xerographic copying or printing machine for producing images comprising:
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(a) a cartridge housing; (b) at least one xerographic processing component operably disposed in said housing effective on assembly of said cartridge with said machine to enable said machine to process images; and (c) a programmable memory in said housing for logging the number of images made on said cartridge, said memory being pre-programmed with a cartridge identification number for comparison with a cartridge recognition number in said machine on assembly of said cartridge with said machine whereby to restrict operation of said machine to only authorized cartridges. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A customer billing system for an electrostatographic copying or printing machine for producing images, said machine having an operating system for controlling operation of said machine, comprising, in combination:
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(a) at least one replaceable cartridge for use in operating said machine, said cartridge having a limited operational life allowing said machine on installation of said cartridge to produce a preset number of images; (b) said cartridge including a programmable memory for logging an image count of the number of images made on said cartridge; (c) means for updating said image count in said memory as images are produced by said machine; (d) said memory being pre-programmed with a maximum image count reflecting the maximum number of images that can be produced with said cartridge; (e) said memory including means to permanently disable said memory from further use when the image count in said memory reaches said maximum image count, said operating system including means responsive to disabling of said memory to prevent said machine from producing images. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification