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:
Mar. 09, 1999
Filed:
May. 23, 1997
Toshiyuki Takahashi, Osaka, JP;
Toshihiko Watanabe, Osaka, JP;
Yukihiro Ito, Osaka, JP;
Hiroshi Wada, Osaka, JP;
Shoji Hirano, Osaka, JP;
Mita Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus is readily provided with an additional function besides its principal function and therefore is adupted for function expansion. A control operation for the additional function is enabled on condition that a component required for the actuation of the additional function is attached to the image forming apparatus. The principal function may be a copying function, and the additional function may be a facsimile function. The component for the function expansion is preferably constructed so as to be snap attached to the image forming apparatus.