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:
Aug. 16, 2005
Filed:
Jul. 25, 2003
Tomomi Kakeshita, Tokyo, JP;
Masanobu Saito, Shizuoka, JP;
Tomomi Kakeshita, Tokyo, JP;
Masanobu Saito, Shizuoka, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus (typically a color printer) and control method use a detachable yellow toner process cartridge Y for forming a yellow toner image on a recording medium and a detachable magenta process cartridge M for forming a magenta toner image on the recording medium after the yellow image has been formed. By detecting the amount of toner user by the yellow process cartridge Y and estimating the amount of yellow toner that has gotten into the magenta process cartridge M, the apparatus and method can determine when the useful life span of the magenta process cartridge M is at an end. By displaying a message to a user that it is time to replace the magenta process cartridge M before print picture quality deteriorates, the apparatus and method make it possible to avoid outputting poor quality printed images.