Assembly of a printer and its consumption tank for business machine

• US 6,011,937 A
• Filed: 06/13/1997
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sagem Communications (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Sagem SA (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Chaussade, Xavier, Brot, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Matthew S.
• Application Number:
  US08/874,895
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 399/24, 399/25, 399/27, 399/29, 399/12, 399/13, 399/11, 399/8, 347/7, 347/19, 347/86, 347/87
• US Class Current: 399/24
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17533 Storage or packaging of ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0855 the concentration being measured by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0863 provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5066 by using information from an external support, e.g. magnetic card
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/553 Monitoring or warning means for exhaustion or lifetime end of consumables, e.g. indication of insufficient copy sheet quantity for a job
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/556 for toner consumption, e.g. pixel counting, toner coverage detection or toner density measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00092 the support being an IC card

Abstract

The system for a printer in its reservoir for consumables for office equipment includes essential command unit for a printer, an electric chip having a balance of consumables and memory and a device to control the reservoir of consumables. The device includes a chip/central unit interfaced in a computer intended to determine the content of the reservoir of consumables, by calculating the flow, in cooperation with the central unit, by estimating the quantity of consumables used according to the estimated quantity of printed copies, and the balance of consumables left. This system has applications to photocopiers as well.

Claims

1. A printer system for monitoring the content of a consumable in a reservoir of a printer, comprising:

a central command unit;

a storage system;

an electronic chip supported on a card, said electronic chip having a memory of the balance of consumable in said reservoir, said card detachable from said reservoir for insertion into a receptacle of said printer;

at least one electrical connector for providing communication between said central command unit and said storage system; and

a management system communicating with said at least one electrical connector, said management system including a means for determining the content of the reservoir of consumables, wherein

said management system calculates the flow and estimates the quantity of consumables used, based on an estimate of the quantity of copies printed, to calculate the quantity of consumables remaining in said reservoir.

2. A printer system for monitoring the content of a consumable in a reservoir of a printer, comprising:

a central command unit;

a storage system;

an electronic chip supported on a card, said electronic chip having a memory of the balance of consumable in said reservoir, said card detachable from said reservoir for insertion into a receptacle of said printer, said receptacle including a plate slidably mounted in a frame;

at least one connector formed in said frame for providing communication between said central command unit and said storage system; and

a management system communicating with said interface, said management system including a means for determining the content of the reservoir of consumables, wherein

said management system calculates the flow and estimates the quantity of consumables used, based on an estimate of the quantity of copies printed, to calculate the quantity of consumables remaining in said reservoir.

3. A printer system for monitoring the content of a consumable in a reservoir of a printer, comprising:

a central command unit;

an electronic chip supported on a card, said electronic chip having a memory of the balance of consumable in said reservoir, said card detachable from said reservoir for insertion into a slot of said printer;

at least one connector mounted on an internal side of said slot for communicating with said card; and

a management system communicating with said interface, said management system including a means for determining the content of the reservoir of consumables, wherein

said management system calculates the flow and estimates the quantity of consumables used, based on an estimate of the quantity of copies printed, to calculate the quantity of consumables remaining in said reservoir.

4. A printer system for monitoring the content of a consumable in a reservoir, comprising:

a central command unit;

a storage system;

an electronic chip having a memory of the balance of consumable in said reservoir, said chip fixedly attached to said reservoir of consumables;

a receptacle housing for receiving said reservoir, said housing having a cover, at least one electrical connector for providing communication between said central command unit and said storage system, said connector mounted on an internal side of said receptacle housing cover; and

a management system communicating with said interface, said management system including a means for determining the content of the reservoir of consumables, wherein

said management system calculates the flow and estimates the quantity of consumables used, based on an estimate of the quantity of copies printed, to calculate the quantity of consumables remaining in said reservoir.