Patent · US Expired

Modular machine having distributed fault recovery-assist user interfaces

US6748186B1 · kind B1 · utility

11Cited by
2References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 9, 2002
Grant dateJun 8, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 9, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G15/502
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A modular toner image producing machine having plural modules including redundant modules is provided and includes (a) a photoreceptive module including a movable endless photoconductive member having an image bearing surface; (b) toner image forming modules for forming a toner image on the image bearing surface, each of the toner image forming modules including module-specific fault detectors; (c) at least one sheet feeding module for feeding a copy sheet to receive the toner image from the image bearing surface; (d) a fusing module for heating and fixing the toner image onto the copy sheet forming a hard copy; (e) at least one finishing module for preparing and arranging a series of hard copies into sets thereof for removal by an operator; and (f) a control module including a main electronic control system having a centrally located user interface device, and distributed module-specific control subsystems, each having a dedicated module and being connected to the main electronic control system and to module-specific fault detectors of the dedicated module, and each of the module-specific control subsystems having a fault recovery-assist user interface device located at the dedica…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.