Supply ordering apparatus

• US 7,013,092 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Krolczyk, Marc J., Marchionda, Dawn M., Hayward, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Sophia S.
• Application Number:
  US10/736,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20050074246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 399/24, 399/25, 399/26, 399/28, 399/29, 399/30
• US Class Current: 399/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation

Abstract

An automatic supply ordering system for electronically ordering a consumable component or replaceable part in a marking machine. The system provides electronic identification of a condition of a replaceable component and automatically electronically sends an offer to purchase a replacement part upon identification of a threshold condition.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one consumable component adated to be replaceable in the apparatus;

at least one sensor in communication with the consumable component;

at least one processor and software logic system adapted to identity a condition in the at least one consumable component; and

at least one wireless communication link associated with the at least one sensor and at least one processor and software logic system;

wherein at least one of the at least one sensor and the at least one processor and software lagic system are adapted to wirelessly communicate with the at least one consumable component and automatically electronically wirelessly communicate an authorization code and an electronic offer to purchase a replacement of the at least one consumable component wherein the at least one processor and software logic system includes instructions for occurrence of threshold conditions relating to the consumable component, the threshold conditions including at least one of;

(1) supply;

(2) wear;

(3) usage;

(4) rate of depletion;

(5) rate of wear;

(6) predicted date of depletion of supply;

(7) predicted date of need of consumable component;

(8) delivery schedule of consumable component; and

(9) statistical data for consumable component and further comprising an output device adapted to communicate with the at least one wireless communication link and receive a wireless communication relating to at least one of a present condition and a prediction of a future condition of the at least one consumable component for use by at feast one of a user, supplier, manufacturer, and third party.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is adapted to electronically initiate and form a contract with a supplier for purchase of a consumable component using an electronic signature.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is at least one of a copy device, printing device, xerographic device, and marking device.

4. An apparatus comprising:

at least one consumable component adapted to be replaceable in the apparatus;

at least one sensor in communication with the consumable component;

at least one processor and software logic system adapted to identify a condition in the at least one consumable component; and

at least one wireless communications link associated with the at least one sensor and at least one processor and software logic system;

wherein at least one of the at least one sensor and the at least one processor and software logic system are adapted to wirelessly communicate with the at least one consumable component and automatically electronically wireless communicate an authorization code and an electronic offer to purchase a replacement of the at least one consumable component wherein the at least one processor and software logic system includes instructions for occurrence of threshold conditions relating to the consumable component, the threshold conditions including at least one of;

(1) supply;

(2) wear;

(3) usage;

(4) rate of depletion;

(5) rate of wear;

(6) predicted date of depletion of supply;

(7) predicted date of need of consumable component;

(6) delivery schedule of consumable component; and

(8) statistical data for consumable component and further comprising an output device adapted to communicate with the at least one wireless communication link and receive a wireless communication relating to at least one of a present condition and a prediction of a future condition of the at least consumable component for use by at least one of a user, supplier, manufacturer, and third party wherein the electronic offer to purchase is in at least one of a human readable and computer readable format.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the at least one consumable component is at least one of an ink cartridge, toner cartridge, photoreceptor cartridge, paper, and printhead.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the apparatus is adapted to request delivery of the at least one consumable part to a specified location.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the communication link is at least one of hardwired and wireless.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the communication of the offer is made through at least one of a modem, Internet, and a processor.