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:
Oct. 07, 2008
Filed:
Dec. 22, 2005
Yoshinori Furuichi, Kanagawa, JP;
Miki Kouchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Noritada Ohi, Saitama, JP;
Hidemasa Morimoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Rie Nakamura, Tokyo, JP;
Akihiro Kakoi, Kanagawa, JP;
Masato Takahashi, Tokyo, JP;
Yoshinori Furuichi, Kanagawa, JP;
Miki Kouchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Noritada Ohi, Saitama, JP;
Hidemasa Morimoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Rie Nakamura, Tokyo, JP;
Akihiro Kakoi, Kanagawa, JP;
Masato Takahashi, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes two or more detachable components that are identical to each other and configured to perform at least part of a sequence of processes associated with forming of an image, a connection detection unit configured to detect attaching of the components, and a first control unit configured to control the sequence of processes, wherein a software-based controller for controlling one of the components is generated in response to detection by the connection detection unit of the attaching of the one of the components.