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. 13, 2004
Filed:
Sep. 16, 2002
Jitsuo Masuda, Yamatotakada, JP;
Masayasu Narimatsu, Nara, JP;
Hiroshi Kawamoto, Tenri, JP;
Hiroaki Yoshida, Nara, JP;
Masahiro Sakai, Osaka, JP;
Naoki Fukudo, Nara, JP;
Yuichiro Takesue, Ikoma, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An object of the invention is to make an exact judgment on suitability of a replaceable component such as a toner supplying container with use of an existing mechanism of an image forming apparatus, without additionally providing a data storage component designed for a consumable product which is detachably attached to the apparatus, or a data reading component to be placed in the image forming apparatus main body. In an incorporated control section, a specific part of a replaceable component, which is placed on an original platform prior to being loaded into the apparatus, is optically scanned to read image information, and, based on the reading result, whether or not the replaceable component is suitable for the image forming apparatus is judged.