Wireless communication system and image forming device

• US 7,917,087 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Harumoto, Katsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu; Zhiyu
• Application Number:
  US10/359,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,973 Days
• Field of Search: 347/19, 347/6, 347/86, 455/41.2, 455/66.1, 399/12
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• 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 15/0872 the developer cartridges being generally horizontally mounted parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis
• 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

Abstract

Tag attaching portions at cartridge parts which are loaded into different cartridge loading portions have common structures and configurations. A position of a wireless communication tag at the cartridge part is easily adjusted to a position suited for communication with a main body antenna. In a laser printer, accommodating chambers and accommodating portions are provided at plural regions of toner cartridges. The wireless communication tag is selectively inserted and fit into one of the accommodating chambers and accommodating portions, in accordance with a position of the cartridge loading portion in which the toner cartridge is loaded. In this way, in a state in which the toner cartridges are respectively loaded in the cartridge loading portions, the wireless communication tags are substantially parallel to and sufficiently close to the main body antennas of antenna units.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system comprising:

a device having a device main body having a plurality of antennas;

a plurality of cartridge loading portions provided at the device main body; and

a plurality of cartridge parts removably loadable in the cartridge loading portions, wherein

each of the plurality of cartridge parts have substantially the same configuration,

each of the plurality of cartridge parts has a wireless communication tag,

the wireless communication tags of the plurality of cartridge parts each being disposed at different positions;

one set of the plurality of cartridge parts being loaded in upper and lower positions relative to each other and directly sandwiching around at least a first of the plurality of antennas of the device main body;

another set of the plurality of cartridge parts loaded in right and left positions relative to each other and directly sandwiching around at least a second of the plurality of antennas of the device main body; and

the first and the second of the plurality of antennas transmit and receive information with the wireless communication tags of the sets of the plurality of cartridge parts which sandwich the first and the second of the plurality of antennas, respectively, wherein

said one set of the plurality of cartridge parts is horizontal, and said another set of the plurality of cartridge parts is vertical, an end of said one set of the plurality of cartridge parts is adjacent to an end of said another set of the plurality of cartridge parts.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cartridge parts include four parts.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein each of the wireless communication tags is capable of attachment to a corresponding cartridge part at a plurality of attaching positions.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of attaching positions include four identically sized attaching positions within the corresponding cartridge part and on a side of the corresponding cartridge part, the plurality of attaching positions being formed together to create a circular cavity.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication tags are of a circular shape on an outer-end and a trapezoidal shape on an inner-end.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 1, further comprising an alarm that emits an alert signal when an improper cartridge part is loaded in the device main body.