A method, system, and program product for communicating with machines and end users connected to a network. Information sent to or from the machines is transmitted using electronic mail or a via a direct connection. The electronic mail may be transmitted over the Internet to a service center or from a service center to a resource administrator, but also may remain within a local or wide area network for transmission between a machine and an end user or a resource administrator. E-mail messages may be transmitted from a computer which is attached to a device which is being monitored or controlled and include information regarding the status, usage or capabilities of the attached device. The device may send status messages and usage information of the device by an end user to either a resource administrator or to a service center on the Internet through a firewall. The message may be sent directly to the resource administrator station if an urgent need of the end user is indicated, so that a communication may be sent either directly to the end user or to a device driver so that the device driver may communicate the message to the end user. For example, an end user may have exceeded a predetermined limit of resource usage, and needs to be informed. For routine information, the service center may manage all the resources on an intranet and may send predetermined types of information such as summary information regarding usage of network resources to the end user using e-mail.

Method and system for remote diagnostic, control and information collection based on various communication modes for sending messages to users

A print media and ink supply means adapted to supply a printing mechanism with ink and printing media upon which the ink is to be deposited, the media and ink supply means including a roll of media rolled upon a media former within the media and ink supply means and at least one ink reservoir integrally formed within the media and ink supply means and adapted to be connected to the printing mechanism for the supply of ink and printing media to the printing mechanism.

Print media roll and ink replaceable cartridge

A printing cartridge (1001) includes a housing (1007). An integrated circuit device (1033) is positioned on the housing (1007). The integrated circuit device (1033) has memory circuitry that carries data relating to at least one of: a serial number of the cartridge, a media and a media colorant.

Printing cartridge with an integrated circuit device

An image-forming device has a plurality of cylindrical image-carrying members, and an optical scanning unit. The plurality of cylindrical image-carrying members is provided in a main casing for rotating about respective rotational axes. The rotational axes are parallel to one another and juxtaposed in a single direction. The optical scanning unit is provided in the main casing and has a plurality of laser generators, a single rotatable polygon mirror, a plurality of mirrors, and a plurality of lenses. The plurality of laser generators is provided one-to-one relationship to the plurality of image-carrying members to emit respective laser beams. The single rotatable polygon mirror deflects the respective laser beams to scan the respective image-carrying members therewith. The plurality of mirrors is provided one-to-one relationship to the plurality of image-carrying members to guide the respective laser beams along respective optical paths to the respective image-carrying members. The plurality of lenses is provided one-to-one relationship to the plurality of image-carrying members and provided in the respective optical paths and between the respective mirrors and the respective image-carrying members. Distances from the respective mirrors to the respective image-carrying members being equal to one another.

Image-forming device

A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface.

Systems and methods for remanufacturing imaging components

A cartridge for an electrophotographic machine having a sump for carrying an agitator rotatably mounted in the sump for engagement with a toner; an encoded device coupled to a first end of the agitator; and a torque sensitive coupling connected to a second end of the agitator which is connectable to a drive mechanism of the machine. The encoded device includes coding representing cartridge characteristic information.

Imaging apparatus cartridge including an encoded device

An improved electrophotographic (EP) printer is provided having a detachable process cartridge that contains a non-volatile memory device, which is an EPROM that cannot be erased after a bit is burned. A "toner wheel" mounted to the exterior of the toner reservoir of the process cartridge provides, in conjunction with an optoelectronic sensor, an electrical signal that the printer receives and uses to determine toner usage. A toner "gas-gauge" is created which uses "bucket levels" as discrete steps to indicate how much of the measured physical toner material actually remains within the toner reservoir. After a given amount of toner material has been dispensed through the developer unit, one of the bits of the EPROM memory device is irreversibly burned, thereby providing a permanent record on the process cartridge of a certain amount of toner usage. As with a normal automobile gas gauge, the toner gas-gauge reading should never increase unless the amount of toner material inside the toner reservoir has increased. Once the bucket level transitions begin to occur for the toner gas-gauge, the printer becomes aware that a majority of the toner material has been expended from inside the toner reservoir. If the number of bucket gradation levels then increases by more than the hysteresis amount, then the printer will "lock out" the operation of a non-reusable process cartridge. When the lock-out mode occurs, a particular bit is burned on the EPROM mounted to the cleaner housing of the process cartridge. This ensures that this particular process cartridge cannot be removed, then simply placed back into the same (or a different) printer, and then begin supplying toner to a printer. Certain important "machine data" also can be stored in the EPROM memory device on the process cartridge of the present invention. The present invention is also able to declare the "end-of-life" of a process cartridge when the gas-gauge toner sensor is not functional (such as when it has been tampered with).

Method and apparatus for storing data in a non-volatile memory circuit mounted on a printer's process cartridge

Disclosed is a cartridge (30) having an encoder wheel (31) thereon for encoding EP supply cartridge characteristic information for an electrophotographic machine, the cartridge comprising a sump (33) for carrying an initial amount of toner (35). A shaft (32) is mounted for rotation in said sump, and an agitator or paddle (34) is mounted thereon in such a manner that when the shaft (32) rotates, the paddle (34) rotates into, through and out of engagement with toner (35) carried by the sump. A single encoder wheel (31) is mounted on the shaft (32), external of the sump (33), the encoder wheel positioned for proximate mating coaction with a coded wheel reader when the cartridge (30) is mounted in position in the electrophotographic machine. A variable torque flexible coupling connects the drive means of the electrophotographic machine to the shaft (32) to effect rotation thereof. The encoder wheel (31) is configured for indicating, in conjunction with said coded wheel reader, a component of resistance to paddle (34) movement through the portion of said sump (33) having toner (35) therein to give an indication of the amount of toner remaining in said sump. Other portions of the wheel (31), in a portion thereof which confronts the reader during a substantially constant velocity of rotation thereof, carry additional characteristic information of the cartridge (30) to permit proper operation of the machine as well as increased efficiency of operation thereof.

Multiple function encoder wheel for cartridges utilized in an electrophotographic output device

A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing that defines a reservoir for containing toner. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on the front of the housing near a first side. A shutter positioned at the exit port is movable between an open position and a closed position. A toner delivery system for transferring toner from the reservoir includes a main interface gear exposed on the front of the housing near the top of the second side. A rearward facing opening is positioned near the first side of the housing for receiving a first engagement feature in an image forming device for opening and closing the shutter. A forward facing slot is positioned near the first side of the housing for receiving a second engagement feature in the image forming device for locking and unlocking the shutter.

Toner Cartridge for use in an Image Forming Device

The weight of toner remaining at any time in a developer housing of a removable toner cartridge installed in a laser printer is determined by ascertaining the weight of the developer housing with the toner when printing is interrupted. The weight of the developer housing with the toner is ascertained through determining the magnitude of a rear reaction force on the side of the developer housing having the input for rotating a developer roll in the developer housing and then subtracting the weight of the developer housing from the weight of the developer housing with the toner. Next, the weight of the remaining toner is correlated to the determined rear reaction force. Then, the amount of the remaining toner is displayed to a user of the laser printer as a percentage of the initial total toner, either numerically or by a bar graph, for example. The developer housing is slidably received in a cleaner housing of the removable toner cartridge and is releasably connected thereto by a pair of biasing springs, which must be at different angles to a line passing through the centers of the developer roll and a photoconductive drum, which is rotatably mounted in the cleaner housing.

Benjamin Keith Newman

Papers

Imaging apparatus cartridge including an encoded device

Method and apparatus for storing data in a non-volatile memory circuit mounted on a printer's process cartridge

Multiple function encoder wheel for cartridges utilized in an electrophotographic output device

Toner Cartridge for use in an Image Forming Device

Removable toner cartridge