Automatic identification of accessories in a reproduction apparatus
US5805950A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 8, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 20, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/00877
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In a reproduction apparatus embodying a marking engine including a logic and control unit for controlling the operation of the reproduction apparatus and at least one accessory, such as a sorter, binder, stacker, folder, or the like, associated with the marking engine, a communication system for automatic identification of accessories associated with the marking engine. The communication system discloses a processor associated respectively with each accessory. The processor includes an identification of the associated accessory. A communication bus is interconnected between the logic and control unit of the marking engine and the processors of each respective accessory. A timing circuit, responsive to power up of the marking engine and associated accessories, automatically enables the processors of each respective accessory, in sequential order, to relay accessory identification provided by the respective processors, in such sequential order to the logic and control unit of the marking engine. The logic and control unit thereby receives an indication of which particular accessories are associated with the marking engine and in what order.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.