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:
Jan. 28, 2003
Filed:
May. 25, 2001
Masato Asanuma, Nara, JP;
Kouichi Takenouchi, Tenri, JP;
Hiroo Naoi, Nara, JP;
Syouichi Fujita, Kashiba, JP;
Hirofumi Sakita, Tenri, JP;
Hideji Saiko, Nara, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A device has a process cartridge that includes a main cartridge accommodating a photosensitive body and a toner cartridge for use in replenis`hing toner as a precondition, is to precisely judge the service life of a photosensitive body and replacement timing of a main cartridge. Whether a predetermined condition is satisfied or not is judged with reference to a recording sheets count value G, a total operation time Tt and a toner cartridge related operation time Tx of the photosensitive drum, and a toner replenishing time Ts. In cases where a predetermined condition is satisfied, a message is displayed to urge the user to replace the process cartridge or the toner cartridge. When the toner is used up, the recording operation is inhibited, and an instruction to replace the process cartridge or the toner cartridge is displayed. Consequently, it is possible to accurately replace the photosensitive drum and toner cartridge at their respective adequate replacement timings.