Accommodating enclosure and management system

• US 6,385,407 B1
• Filed: 12/28/1999
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Maxell Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Maxell Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Inose, Fumiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Sophia S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGO, HOANG X
• Application Number:
  US09/472,973
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 347/7, 347/9, 347/12, 347/49, 347/86, 399/8, 399/12, 399/13, 399/24, 399/25, 399/77, 222/DIG.1, 222/539, 340/551, 340/540, 340/572, 380/21, 380/28, 380/34
• US Class Current: 399/24
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns
• 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 15/6502 Supplying of sheet copy material; Cassettes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 222/01 Xerography

Abstract

The container and the management system include a storage portion to accommodate an expendable product to be used by an apparatus; and a memory to store identification information that can be read out by an external device; wherein the container is removably installed in the apparatus and the apparatus retrieves expendable product identification information and remaining amount information from the container to determine if the expendable product is an appropriate one.

Claims

1. A container removably installed in an apparatus, said container comprising:

a storage portion to accommodate an expendable product used by the apparatus;

a memory to store ID information that can be read out by an external device; and

a communication portion that allows the memory to communicate with the external device in a non-contact manner, wherein the memory and the communication portion are formed in a single-chip monolithic semiconductor device, said single-chip monolithic semiconductor device having a micro-fabricated coil formed thereon.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the memory further stores at least one of information on the condition of use of the expendable product in the apparatus, ID information of a manufacturer of the expendable product and information on inspection history of the expendable product.

3. A container according to claim 1, further including an actual time clock that measures the actual time.

4. A container according to claim 1, wherein the memory has an alteration prevention function.

5. A container according to claim 1, including:

an authentication means to authenticate access information entered from the external device; and

an access control means to allow the memory to communicate with the external device when the authentication means authenticate the access information.

6. A management system comprising:

a container removably installed in an apparatus and accommodating an expendable product to be used by the apparatus;

a reader/writer;

a processing device connected to the reader/writer and adapted to check an appropriate use of the expendable product according to information obtained by the reader/writer;

wherein the container has a storage portion to accommodate the expendable product, an IC chip having a memory to store ID information of the container and a communication portion allowing the IC chip to communicate with the reader/writer in a non-contact manner; and

a detection portion to detect the amount of the expendable product remaining in the container;

wherein the memory further stores a detected value of the detection portion; and

wherein when the remaining amount of the expendable product detected by the detection portion is smaller than the previous remaining amount of the expendable product stored in the memory, the processing device allows the memory to be updated with the present remaining amount of the expendable product and, when the remaining amount of the expendable product is larger than the previous remaining amount of the expendable product stored in the memory, prohibits the memory from being updated with the present remaining amount of the expendable product and stops the operation of the apparatus.

7. A management system according to claim 6, wherein the memory further stores at least one of information on the condition of use of the expendable product in the apparatus, ID information of a manufacturer of the expendable product and information on inspection history of the expendable product.

8. A management system according to claim 6, wherein the IC chip further includes a controller that enables a clear signal to clear the memory after an appropriate authentication process.

9. A management system according to claim 6, wherein the processing device further includes a decision means to check by using the memory whether or not the expendable product is appropriately used and an warning means to annunciate when the decision means decides that the expendable product is used inappropriately.

10. A management system according to claim 9, wherein the decision means decides that the container and/or the expendable product are not appropriate when they are not supposed to be used in the apparatus.

11. A management system according to claim 6, wherein the processing device is connected to the apparatus and, when it is decided that the expendable product is not used appropriately, stops the operation of the apparatus.

12. A management system according to claim 6, wherein the management system is a recycling system for the expendable product and further includes a filling device to fill the expendable product into the container.

13. A management system according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus is a printing apparatus and the container is an ink cartridge or a toner cartridge.

14. The management system according to claim 6, wherein said reader/writer includes an antenna unit and a control interface unit.