Method for providing information for a customer replaceable unit

• US 6,975,422 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2000
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Chiesa, Daniel A., Kurz, Karl E., Claessens, Tom W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Milia, Mark R.
• Application Number:
  US09/740,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20020075500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,820 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.16, 399/13, 399/25, 399/12, 347/7
• US Class Current: 358/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/55 Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
• 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 2221/1823 Cartridges having electronically readable memory

Abstract

A method and information system for informing a user about consumable components such as a CRU using printed documents in an electrostatographic system.

Claims

1. A method for providing information to a user comprising:

providing a printing machine;

installing a replaceable component in the printing machine, the replaceable component including a memory storage device, the memory storage device containing data including at least one identification code of the replaceable component;

electronically transferring at least one of the identification code of the replaceable component to the printing machine; and

printing a document including information on at least one of recycling and installing the replaceable component.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the memory storage device further comprises a contact for ordering a replacement replaceable component and printing a document including at least the identification code of the replaceable component and a contact for ordering a replacement replaceable component upon a condition in the replaceable component.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising sending an electronic mail message including at least one of the identification code of the replaceable component and a contact for ordering a replacement replaceable component to a computer.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising printing a document including information for at least one of returning, using, and installing the replaceable component.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising printing a document including information for use in a geographic market in which the replaceable component is destined.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising printing a document including information identifying a configuration of the replaceable component.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising printing a document including information for the replaceable component identifying at least one of:

(a) manufacturer;

(b) vendor;

(c) third party;

(d) equivalent apparatus and respective identification code;

(e) phone number; and

(f) facsimile number.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the replaceable component is at least one of a toner cartridge, developer cartridge, print cartridge, ink cartridge, printhead, and photoreceptor drum.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the replaceable component is a toner cartridge and wherein the memory storage device further comprises a contact for ordering a replacement toner cartridge and printing a document including at least the identification code of the toner cartridge and a contact for ordering a replacement toner cartridge.

10. A method for ordering a component comprising:

providing a printing machine;

installing a replaceable unit in the printing machine, the replaceable unit comprising;

(a) a container for containing a marking substance used in a printing process in the printing machine, the container having a first volume of substance prior to use in the printing machine and a second volume of substance less than the first volume after use; and

(b) a memory storage device functionally associated with the container, the memory storage device including data about the replaceable unit;

transferring the data in the memory storage device to the printing machine; and

upon reaching a threshold volume of substance in the container, printing a human readable document, the human readable document indicating;

information on at least one of recycling and installing the replaceable unit.

11. A method for ordering a component comprising:

providing a printing machine, the printing machine including a customer replaceable unit comprising a memory storage device, the memory storage device including data about the customer replaceable unit;

communicating the data in the customer replaceable unit with the printing machine; and

printing a human readable document including information on at least one of recycling and installing the replaceable unit after a condition occurs in the customer replaceable unit.

12. The method for ordering of claim 11 wherein the data comprises information for at least one of ordering, returning, using, and installing the customer replaceable unit and wherein the document comprises information for at least one of ordering, returning, using, and installing the customer replaceable unit.

13. A method for ordering a component for a printing apparatus comprising:

providing a replaceable unit including a memory containing data about the replaceable unit;

providing a printing apparatus; and

printing a document including at least a portion of the data, the data relating to at least one of recycling and installing a replacement replaceable unit.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the replaceable unit includes a first volume of a substance prior to use and a second volume of the substance less than the first volume after an increase in use.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising printing a document containing information about a future disablement of the printing apparatus.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising printing a log of previously printed documents about the replaceable unit.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising printing at least one of:

(a) an identification code for the replaceable unit; and

(b) a phone number for ordering a replacement replaceable unit.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising printing at least one of:

(a) a URL address for electronic ordering of a replaceable unit; and

(b) a URL address for obtaining instructions on obtaining a replacement replaceable unit.

19. The method for ordering a component of claim 13 further comprising printing at least one of:

(a) a return address for recycling of the replaceable unit; and

(b) a return label for recycling of the replaceable unit.

20. The method for ordering a component of claim 13 further comprising printing at least one of:

(a) warranty information for the replaceable unit (b) notification of the replaceable unit being used beyond its warranted life, (c) date of manufacture of the replaceable unit;

(d) pace of manufacture of the replaceable unit; and

(e) a replacement instruction for the replaceable unit.