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:
May. 06, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 17, 2001
Takahito Miura, Kanagawa, JP;
Koichiro Maemura, Kanagawa, JP;
Takeshi Hayafune, Kanagawa, JP;
Masayuki Shimizu, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming system includes a first image forming apparatus which can be connected to a host computer as an image data supplying source and also connected to a second image forming apparatus so that the host computer can be selectively and reliably connected to one of the first and second image forming apparatuses. The first image forming apparatus is connected to the host computer so as to print the image data provided from the host computer. The second image forming apparatus is operatively connectable to the host computer via the first image forming apparatus so as to print the image data sent from the host computer. A switching device is provided in the first image forming apparatus. The switching device switches a connection of the host computer so that one of the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus is operatively connected to the host computer.