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:
Apr. 05, 2005
Filed:
Dec. 27, 2001
Masaichi Sawada, Tokyo, JP;
Kiyohisa Koyama, Kanagawa, JP;
Masaichi Sawada, Tokyo, JP;
Kiyohisa Koyama, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming device includes a communication unit connecting the device to a support center via a communication line and receiving and transmitting information by a communication with the support center. An error detecting unit detects an error of the device. A first warning unit controls, when the error is detected, an operation/display unit to display a repair call activation menu that indicates a defective condition of the device and enables a user to decide whether activation of a repair call transmitting function is allowed. A second warning unit controls a warning device to produce at least a warning sound indicating the defective condition of the device. When the defective condition of the device continues for a time, exceeding a predetermined period, without taking any repairing action, a warning executing unit executes either one of the warning controls of the first and second warning units or both.