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AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsShuichi Aruga, Ryohei Sato
Estimating the term…
A system construction section 24 receives mechanical modules, such as printer modules, and a scanner, produced by a mechanicals expendables production section 22, and assembles the mechanical modules and a built-in computer for driving and controlling the mechanical modules, so as to construct a printing system. Constructed printing systems 132, 134, and 136 are installed in a mini-labo 32, a drugstore 34, and a shopping mall 36. An expendables supply section 26 obtains a supply of expendables, which have been consumed in the respective printing systems 132, 134, and 136, from a mechanicals expendables production section 22. The supply of expendables from the mechanicals expendables production section 22, which produces genuine expendables suitable for the printer modules, ensures sufficient execution of the printing performances of the printing system.
A method of managing production of a printing system, which includes a printing apparatus and a computer, and supply of expendables, said method comprising the steps of:
A system of managing production of a printing system, which includes a printing apparatus and a computer, and supply of expendables consumed by the printing system, said system comprising:
A method of managing production of a printing system, which includes a printing apparatus and a computer, and supply of expendables consumed by the printing system, said system comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Backward citations are indexed for grants only.
Administration; Management: resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation…
Refilling of the cartridge: whilst mounted in the printer
Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor: ink level or ink residue control
Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management: inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling,…
Term end not estimated
This is a continuation of Application PCT/JP01/01731, filed Mar. 6, 2001, now abandoned.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to method of managing production of printing systems and supply of expendables. More specifically the invention pertains to a method of managing production of printing systems, each including an ink jet printer and a computer, and supply of expendables.
FIG. 1 shows the concept of a method of managing production of printing systems and supply of expendables in one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the configuration of a management system that manages maintenance of the printing systems of the embodiment and supply of expendables;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a printing-time processing routine carried out by any of the built-in computers of printing systems 132, 134, and 136;
One mode of carrying out the present invention is discussed below as a preferred embodiment. FIG. 1 shows the concept of a method of managing production of printing systems and supply of expendables in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the configuration of a management system that manages maintenance of the printing systems of the embodiment and supply of expendables.
Referring to FIG. 1, a mechanicals expendables production section 22 produces and supplies mechanical modules like printer modules and scanners as built-in modules of ink jet printers, as well as expendables like ink cartridges and rolls of paper that are used to ensure sufficient execution of performances of the produced printer modules.
A system construction section 24 assembles the mechanical modules like printer modules and a scanner supplied from the mechanicals expendables production section 22 and a built-in computer for driving and controlling such mechanical modules to construct a printing system. The system construction section 24 installs constructed printing systems 132, 134, and 136 in a mini-labo 32, a drugstore 34, and a shopping mall 36 and carries out maintenance of the printing systems 132, 134, and 135. The system construction section 24 spends labor not for production of the mechanical modules but for construction of the system, thus ensuring construction of high-performance printing systems. In the printing system of the embodiment, a plurality of printer modules, a scanner, and a receipt printer are incorporated as mechanical modules. The built-in computer takes charge of driving and controlling such mechanical modules.