Method and apparatus for repairing and electronic circuit in a remanufactured replaceable consumable
US6882810B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 15, 2003 |
| Grant date | Apr 19, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 7, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2221/1823
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In the toner cartridge recycling and remanufacturing industry, used xerographic products are reconditioned, repaired, and some are refilled with toner. Part of the refurbishment process is the replacing of used and worn components, including an electronic circuit, which has been spent. The electronic circuit is a critical component of the replaceable consumable unit and is used by the printer to store information used in the operation of the printer. Information stored in this electronic circuit relates to how much toner is remaining, the cartridge type, operating characteristics, and so forth. Some of these circuits have been designed for a one-time use application. For example, once the printer has determined that all of the usable toner has been consumed, the printer will essentially turn off the circuit in a replaceable consumable unit and the replaceable consumable unit will no longer function. In the remanufacturing process, a secondary electronic circuit can be attached to this non-functioning circuit in order to allow the replaceable consumable unit to operate once more. The nature of the present invention is directed at the process of repairing this non-functioning circuit…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.