Marking replaceable resource units within printing devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- generating a marking beam of electromagnetic energy within a printing device;
altering a visibly markable portion of a replaceable subsystem that is at least partially arranged within the printing device by illuminating at least part of the markable portion with the marking beam; and
wherein illuminating at least part of the markable portion includes directing the marking beam in at least one direction within the printing device and, with the replaceable subsystem arranged within the printing device, moving at least a portion of the replaceable subsystem with respect to the at least one direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A marking beam of electromagnetic energy is generated within a printing device and a visibly markable portion of a replaceable subsystem that is at least partially arranged within the printing device is altered by illuminating at least part of the markable portion with the marking beam.
7 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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generating a marking beam of electromagnetic energy within a printing device; altering a visibly markable portion of a replaceable subsystem that is at least partially arranged within the printing device by illuminating at least part of the markable portion with the marking beam; and wherein illuminating at least part of the markable portion includes directing the marking beam in at least one direction within the printing device and, with the replaceable subsystem arranged within the printing device, moving at least a portion of the replaceable subsystem with respect to the at least one direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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generating a marking beam of electromagnetic energy within a printing device; altering a visibly markable portion of a replaceable subsystem that is at least partially arranged within the printing device by separately illuminating, with the marking beam, a first area of the markable portion and/or a second area of the markable portion distinct from the first area. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A printing device comprising:
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a housing; a replaceable resource unit that is at least partially arranged within the housing, the replaceable resource unit having a visibly markable portion; a beam directing unit arranged within the housing, the beam directing unit configured to illuminate at least part of the markable portion using a marking beam of electromagnetic energy and to direct the marking beam in at least one direction within the printing device while illuminating the markable portion; and a resource unit engaging unit arranged within the housing and configured to, with the replaceable subsystem arranged within the housing, move at least the visibly markable portion of the replaceable subsystem with respect to the at least one direction before or while the beam directing unit illuminates the part of the markable portion. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A printing device comprising:
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a housing; a replaceable resource unit that is at least partially arranged within the housing, the replaceable resource unit having a visibly markable portion; and a beam directing unit arranged within the housing, the beam directing unit configured to direct a marking beam of electromagnetic energy in a first direction within the printing device to illuminate a first area of the markable portion and/or to direct the marking beam in a second direction within the printing device to illuminate a second area of the markable portion of the replaceable subsystem distinct from the first area. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A printing device comprising:
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a housing; a replaceable resource unit that is at least partially arranged within the housing, the replaceable resource unit having a portion markable visibly to a person, the markable portion being erasable such that information visible to a person may be alternately marked on and erased from the markable portion; and a beam directing unit arranged within the housing and configured to mark information on and erase information from the markable portion by illuminating the markable portion using a marking beam of electromagnetic energy generated by a laser that is configured for use by the printing device to print. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification