| 摘要 |
The medium storage containers or dispensers (11,12), according to printer type, e.g. ink, tint or toner reservoirs or ribbon cassettes are provided with sensors (14) indicating usage. The sensed signals at appropriate logic level (through TI ASIC element) are delivered to a microcomputer system (16). An electronic data store provides locations for the sensor signals (SP1....SP5). A reference value for the storage container is defined and stored in the system memory (RAM) which, a through the bus linkage, is used in a comparator procedure by the central processor unit (CPU). Output signals are then . generated to display the working situation on the parameters of interest including, through an irreversible counter display, the medium or media usage and time of usage of the equipment. With alignment of comparison for storage container depletion warning and inhibiting signals follow. By design it is not possible to resume operation by simple re-filling action; the chip (14) is not reprogrammable. |
