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:
Sep. 12, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 23, 1996
William T Lefebvre, Rocky Hill, CT (US);
Charles F Murphy, III, Milford, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
An ink sensing apparatus for a value dispensing device having a printhead which prints an indication of value includes a device for determining a total amount of ink consumed by the value dispensing device based on a total number of indications of value printed by the printhead and a total number of maintenance actions performed on the printhead; a device for ascertaining that the total amount of ink consumed by the value dispensing device has exceeded a predetermined amount; and a device for providing an indication that the total amount of ink consumed by the value dispensing apparatus has exceeded the predetermined amount. A method associated with the above device includes the steps of: determining a total amount of ink consumed by the value dispensing device based on a total number of indications of value printed by the printhead and a total number of maintenance actions performed on the printhead; ascertaining that the total amount of ink consumed by the value dispensing device has exceeded a predetermined amount; and providing an indication that the total amount of ink consumed by the value dispensing apparatus has exceeded the predetermined amount.