The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 25, 2025
Filed:
Jul. 20, 2023
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya, JP;
Takashi Suzuki, Nagoya, JP;
Noriko Misumi, Konan, JP;
BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya, JP;
Abstract
An apparatus memory stores first type information indicating whether an apparatus main body is a contract apparatus or a normal apparatus. The contract apparatus is usable in a case where an apparatus contract for an image forming apparatus is set. A consumable memory stores second type information indicating whether a consumable is a contract consumable or a normal consumable. The contract consumable is usable in a case where a consumable contract for an image forming apparatus is set. A controller is configured to: determine whether the first type information indicates that the apparatus main body is the contract apparatus; determine whether the second type information indicates that the consumable attached to the apparatus main body is the contract consumable; and switch a function usable in the image forming apparatus based on a combination of the first type information and the second type information.