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:
Mar. 13, 2018
Filed:
Jun. 13, 2013
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Motofumi Shiraiwa, Nagano-ken, JP;
Yoshihiro Ueno, Nagano-ken, JP;
Mitsuhiko Maejima, Nagano-ken, JP;
Shinji Takahashi, Nagano-ken, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An ink billing system is used between a client company Xthat prints information and a printer manufacturer that supplies ink cartridges (or toner) to company X. Company Xhas a main server, a plurality of in-store serversin communication with the main server, and a plurality of inkjet (or laser) printerseach having an ink cartridge(or toner) for printing according to commands from the in-store server. When billing company Xbased on the number of ink shots (or drum charging time) used by the printersand stored on the main server, the terminal deviceof the printer manufacturer changes the billing rate per unit of ink according to the ink shot count (or drum charging time).