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:
Jun. 25, 2013
Filed:
Jun. 27, 2008
Naoki Kikuchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Masanori Hirano, Kanagawa, JP;
Naoki Kikuchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Masanori Hirano, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus enables the output of a high-quality image even when an expendable supply, such as ink, recording head, or recording sheet other than a specific expendable supply, such as one designated by a manufacturer, is used. The image forming apparatus includes a carriage for moving a recording head having plural recording nozzles in a horizontal scan direction. The recording head discharges ink onto a recording medium. A detection unit detects whether one or more expendable supplies required for image formation is a specific expendable supply. Upon detection of a non-specific expendable supply, a notifying unit notifies an operator and suggests that the image forming method be changed.