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:
Apr. 23, 1996
Filed:
Oct. 21, 1994
Masayuki Hayashi, Yokohama, JP;
Yoshihiro Mitekura, Yokohama, JP;
Koichi Kanaya, Yokohama, JP;
Masato Terao, Tokyo, JP;
Toshiya Tagawa, Ichikawa, JP;
Nobuaki Tomidokoro, Sagamihara, JP;
Masahiro Kitayama, Kawasaki, JP;
Osamu Kizaki, Asaka, JP;
Yasuo Kawada, Kawasaki, JP;
Kazuki Nakahara, Tokyo, JP;
Tomofumi Harada, Yokohama, JP;
Yasunari Hashimoto, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A control system for collectively supervising a plurality of copiers or similar image forming apparatuses connected to a control device by communication lines with or without the intermediary of communication control units. To down-load data relating to image formation, the control device determines whether or not a copier of interest is an inoperative state and, if it is in an inoperative state, automatically sends the data to the copier via a telephone line, an exchange, and a communication control unit. This data is written to a storage device built in the copier. To up-load data relating to image formation, the control device causes each copier to automatically send the data stored in the storing device thereof and stores the data in a memory thereof. Up-loading is effected at an optimal time other than the time when the copier is performing an automatic adjustment, in use, or quite likely to be used.