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:
Feb. 05, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 27, 2000
Toshio Tada, Tokyo, JP;
Hideyuki Kondo, Tokyo, JP;
Oki Data Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A cartridge is attached to a printer that performs a printing operation only when the cartridge is a predetermined kind of the cartridge. The cartridge includes a first predetermined number of magnet holders provided on the cartridge and a second predetermined number of magnets each of which is received in a corresponding one of the magnet holders. A maximum value of the second predetermined number is equal to the first predetermined number. A combination of the magnet holders having the magnets therein indicates the kind of the cartridge. The image forming apparatus comprises a detector section and an identifying section. The detector has magnetic sensor elements each of which detects a magnetic flux of a corresponding one of the magnets. The identifying section compares reference data with a combination of outputs of the magnetic sensor elements so as to identify the kind of the cartridge.