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:
Feb. 13, 2007
Filed:
Feb. 28, 2005
Applicants:
Keiichi Taguchi, Nagano-ken, JP;
Ken Yoshizuka, Nagano-ken, JP;
Osamu Ishibashi, Nagano-ken, JP;
Inventors:
Assignee:
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G03G 21/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
Prior to execution of a printing operation, a print preparatory operation is conducted collectively on all developer cartridges mounted to a developing unit, thereby bringing all the developer cartridges into a printable state. Therefore, even if a residual amount of toner in the cartridge runs too low to continue the printing operation performed using one of plural cartridges mounted to the developing unit, the printing operation is allowed to continue by switching the cartridge to the next cartridge. Hence, a large volume of monochromatic prints may be produced in an efficient manner.