IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0120915
(2002-04-11)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Cherfane, Raymond
- Cocciadiferro, Edward
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Flexible Products Company
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대리인 / 주소 |
Vedder Price Kaufman & Kammholz
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
9 인용 특허 :
26 |
초록
▼
This embodiment relates generally to a foam dispensing system, and more particularly to an automated monitoring and diagnostic system for use with foam dispensing systems that permits remote control of the dispensing of foam. A control console is provided that is interconnected, preferably by way of
This embodiment relates generally to a foam dispensing system, and more particularly to an automated monitoring and diagnostic system for use with foam dispensing systems that permits remote control of the dispensing of foam. A control console is provided that is interconnected, preferably by way of a high-speed data link, with a foam dispenser, the A and B foam component pumps, a power source and controller, and a gateway. The console preferably includes a plurality of individual control circuits, typically disposed within one or more integrated circuits. The console may instead, or additionally, include software to perform some or all of the data exchange functions. The control circuits and/or software are preferably disposed within modules that are mounted to various components of the system. The modules may include one or more sensors operatively connected to the controller that monitor and record operational parameters. The system can optionally incorporate a wide-area network and multiple local-area networks, wherein each local-area network is dedicated to a single foam-dispensing unit and includes a main console and gateway associated therewith.
대표청구항
▼
This embodiment relates generally to a foam dispensing system, and more particularly to an automated monitoring and diagnostic system for use with foam dispensing systems that permits remote control of the dispensing of foam. A control console is provided that is interconnected, preferably by way of
This embodiment relates generally to a foam dispensing system, and more particularly to an automated monitoring and diagnostic system for use with foam dispensing systems that permits remote control of the dispensing of foam. A control console is provided that is interconnected, preferably by way of a high-speed data link, with a foam dispenser, the A and B foam component pumps, a power source and controller, and a gateway. The console preferably includes a plurality of individual control circuits, typically disposed within one or more integrated circuits. The console may instead, or additionally, include software to perform some or all of the data exchange functions. The control circuits and/or software are preferably disposed within modules that are mounted to various components of the system. The modules may include one or more sensors operatively connected to the controller that monitor and record operational parameters. The system can optionally incorporate a wide-area network and multiple local-area networks, wherein each local-area network is dedicated to a single foam-dispensing unit and includes a main console and gateway associated therewith. ENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is related to and claims the benefit of the filing date of provisional application Ser. No. 60/204,404 (the '404 Application), filed on May 16, 2000. The '404 Application is incorporated by reference. f the developer replenishing unit according to the determined driving amount. 4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the history information includes the calculated actual utilization amount. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the history information includes threshold information indicative of a service life of the developer replenishing unit for use in performing at least one of stopping an operation of said image forming apparatus and informing a user of a level of the service life. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the history information contains driving control threshold information indicative of a timing of multiplying a driving amount of the developer supplying member by a number and correction constants information for correcting the actual utilization amount. 7. An apparatus according claim 6, wherein the correction constants information includes at least one of the following correction constants: a developer kind correction constant based on a kind of the developer contained in the developer replenishing unit; a humidity correction constant based on variations in humidity of the developer contained in the developer replenishing unit; a utilization amount collection constant based on the actual utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit; a driving amount correction constant based on the driving amount of the developer supplying member, and a parts history correction constant based on parts constituting the developer replenishing unit. 8. An image forming method for use with an image forming apparatus including a removable developer replenishing unit, which contains a developer to replenish a developing portion with the developer, the developer replenishing unit including a storing means comprising a first storage portion for storing identification information related to the developer replenishing unit and a second storage portion for storing history information related to the developer replenishing unit, and a developer supplying member for supplying the developer from the developer replenishing unit to the developing portion, said image forming method comprising: an identification judgment step of judging whether the stored identification data corresponds to identification information included in a main body of the image forming apparatus; a life judgment step of judging whether an actual utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit has reached a predetermined utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit according to the history information, wherein said life judgment step is performed if it is judged in said identification judgment step that the stored identification data corresponds to the identification information included in the main body; a developer density detection step of detecting developer density information relating to the supplied developer; a developer density judgment step of judging whether the developer density information is less than a reference value; and a developer supply controlling step of controlling an operation of the developer supplying member according to the history information, if the developer density information is less than the reference value, wherein said developer supply controlling step is performed if it is judged in said life judgment step that utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit has not reached the predetermined utilization amount. 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said developer supply controlling step includes: a driving amount determining step of determining a driving amount of the developer supplying member according to the developer density information; and a variable power control step of controlling a supplied developer amount by multiplying the determined driving amount by a number according to the actual utilization amount. 10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising: a utilization amount calculating step of calculating the actual utilization amount according to the determined driving amount. 11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising: a step of storing the calculated actual utilization amount as the history information. 12. A method according to claim 8, wherein the history information includes threshold information indicative of a service life of the developer replenishing unit for use in performing at least one of stopping the operation of the developing portion and informing a user of a level of the service life. 13. A method according to claim 8, wherein the history information includes threshold information indicative of a timing of driving the developer supplying member and correction constants information for correcting the actual utilization amount. 14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the correction constants information includes at least one of the following correction constants: a developer kind correction constant based on a kind of the developer contained in the developer replenishing unit; a humidity correction constant based on variations in humidity of the developer contained in the developer replenishing unit; a utilization amount correction constant based on the actual utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit: a driving amount correction constant based on a driving amount of the developer supplying member, and a parts history correction constant hated on parts constituting the developer replenishing unit. 15. A medium with an image forming control program recorded thereon for use with an image forming apparatus, the program instructing a computer to control replenishment of a developer from a removable developer replenishing unit, which contains the developer, to a developing portion during image formation, the developer replenishing unit including a storing means, which comprises a first storage portion for storing identification information related to the developer and a second storage portion for storing history information related to the developer replenishing unit and a developer supply member for supplying the developer from the developer replenishing unit to the developing portion, the control program comprising computer readable code for executing: a first step of judging whether the stored identification data corresponds to identification information included in a main body of the image forming apparatus; a second step of detecting developer density information relating to the supplied developer, and of judging whether an actual utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit has reached a predetermined utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit according to the history information, wherein said second step is performed if it is judged in said first step that the stored identification data corresponds to the identification information included in the main body; and a third step of judging whether the developer density information is less than a reference value, and controlling an operation of the developer supplying member according to the history information, if the developer density information is less than the reference value, wherein said third step is performed if it is judged in said second step that the utilization amount of the developer replenishing has not reached the predetermined utilization amount. 16. A medium according to claim 15, wherein if a developer supplying amount of the developer is controlled, the program further comprises code for executing: a driving amount determining step of determining a driving amount of the developer supplying member according to the developer density information; and a variable power control step of a controlling a supplied developer amount by multiplying the determined driving amount by a number according to the actual utilization amount. 17. A medium according to claim 16, wherein the program further comprises code or executing: a calculating step of calculating the actual utilization amount according to
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