Method for monitoring prescribed use periods of replaceable parts within an image forming apparatus
US5717974A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 10, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2221/1663
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for monitoring prescribed use periods of replaceable parts within an image forming apparatus, contemplates the steps of: updating in a memory, current count values respectively corresponding to the replaceable parts in response to each printed sheet generated by the apparatus, each one of the current count values representing an amount of use sustained by a corresponding one of the replaceable parts; sequentially comparing the current count values with corresponding predetermined count values representative of the prescribed use periods to determine whether any one of the prescribed use periods has expired; and providing output of a printed document indicating that one of the prescribed use periods has expired when one of the current count values equals a corresponding one of the predetermined count values.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.