Imaging device, method of remodeling imaging device, and consumables container for imaging device

• US 8,827,426 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2011
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Print-Rite Technology Development Company Limited of Zhuhai
• Original Assignee: Print-Rite Technology Development Company Limited of Zhuhai
• Inventors: Xiao, Qingguo, Zhang, Qiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Anh T. N.
• Application Number:
  US13/878,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20130187997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 347/7, 347/19, 347/49, 347/50, 347/85, 347/86, 347/87
• US Class Current: 347/50
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• 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 2221/1663 having lifetime indicators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting

Abstract

The imaging device has a housing inside which a machine body is installed, a consumables container receiver, and a connector. The machine body has a master control circuit board; the master control circuit board has a communications module which communicates with a consumables chip. The consumables chip stores the information relating to a consumables container. At least one consumables container is detachably installed on the consumables container installer of the consumables container receiver. The connector is installed apart from the consumables container installer; the consumables chip is installed inside the connector and connected with a communications module in a communication manner. The invention also provides a remodeling method and a consumables container for such an imaging device.

Claims

1. A imaging device comprising:

a housing;

a machine body being installed inside the housing;

the machine body comprising a master control circuit board;

the master control circuit board comprising a communications module;

the communications module communicating with a consumables resetting chip;

a consumables container installer;

one or more consumables containers being detachably installed on the consumables container installer;

the consumables chip storing information relating to the consumables container;

wherein a connector is installed apart from the consumables container installer and the consumables chip which communicates with the communication module is installed in the connector;

wherein the connector comprises a box fixed on a wall of the housing, and

wherein the resetting chip is installed inside the box.

2. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein a resetting switch of the resetting chip is installed on a wall of the box.

3. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein the consumables container installer is a printing vehicle;

the printing vehicle is equipped with an ink supply needle;

the consumables container is an ink cartridge;

the ink cartridge has an ink supply port;

the ink cartridge is detachably installed inside the printing vehicle so that the ink supply port and the ink supply needle have fluid connection.

4. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein the consumables container installer is a printing vehicle;

the consumables container is an ink cartridge;

the ink cartridge has a printing head; and

the ink cartridge is detachably installed inside the printing vehicle.

5. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein the consumables container installer is on the machine body;

the consumables container is an ink cartridge; and

the ink cartridge is detachably installed on the consumables container installer.

6. A method for remodeling an imaging device;

said imaging device comprising;

a housing;

a machine body being installed inside the housing;

the machine body comprising a master control circuit board;

the master control circuit board comprising a communications module which communicates with a consumables resetting chip; and

a consumables container installer;

one or more consumables containers being detachably installed on the consumables container installer;

the consumables chip storing information relating to the consumables container and being fixed on an outside wall of the consumables container; and

the consumables container being equipped with an electrode terminal which is electrically connected with the communications module;

the method comprising;

installing a connector in a place apart from the consumables container installer, the connector comprising a box fixed on a wall of the housing;

breaking the electrical connection between the communications module and the electrode terminal; and

installing the consumables chip in the connector which communicates with the communications module.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a resetting switch of the resetting chip is placed on a wall of the box or on a wall of the housing.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the consumables container installer is a printing vehicle;

the printing vehicle is equipped with an ink supply needle;

the consumables container is a ink cartridge;

the ink cartridge has an ink supply port; and

wherein the ink cartridge is detachably installed inside the printing vehicle so that the ink supply port and the ink supply needle have a fluid connection.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the consumables container installer is a printing vehicle;

the consumables container is an ink cartridge;

the ink cartridge has a printing head; and

wherein the ink cartridge is detachably installed inside the printing vehicle.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the consumables container installer is placed on the machine body;

the consumables container is an ink cartridge; and

the ink cartridge is detachably installed on the consumables container installer.

11. An imaging device comprising:

a consumables container installer configured to have a consumables container detachably installed thereon;

a housing;

a machine body installed inside the housing;

a master control circuit board installed in the housing, the master control circuit having;

a communications module that communicates with a consumables chip that stores information relating to the consumables container; and

a box arranged on a wall of the housing installed in a place apart from the consumables container installer and having a connector,

wherein the consumables chip is coupled to the connector and is configured to communicate with the communications module, and

wherein the consumables chip is a resetting chip.

12. The consumables container of claim 11, wherein a resetting switch of the resetting chip is on an accessible wall of the box or the housing.

13. The consumables container of claim 11, wherein the consumables container installer is a printing vehicle;

the printing vehicle has an ink supply needle;

the consumables container is an ink cartridge;

the ink cartridge has an ink supply port; and

wherein the ink cartridge is detachably installed inside the printing vehicle so that the ink supply port and the ink supply needle have a fluid connection.

14. The consumables container of claim 11, wherein the consumables container installer is a printing vehicle;

the consumables container is an ink cartridge;

the ink cartridge has a printing head; and

the ink cartridge is detachably installed inside the printing vehicle.

15. The consumables container of claim 11, wherein the consumables container installer is installed on the machine body inside the housing;

and the consumables container is an ink cartridge which is detachably installed on the consumables container installer.