Patent Number: 6,803,745

Title: Battery pack charging apparatus and method

Abstract: A charging apparatus for charging a plurality of detachable battery packs includes a charging device for charging the plurality of battery packs one after another. A monitoring device is included to monitor attachment of a battery pack. A memory is included to store attachment history data of a battery pack based upon a monitoring result. A switching device is included to switch from one of the battery packs to the next battery pack. A voltage detecting device is included to detect a voltage of the next battery pack before charging. A charging manner setting device is included to set any one of constant current charging and constant voltage charging in accordance with the detected voltage. A charge current detecting device is also included to detect a current during charging of the next battery pack.

Inventors: Nishida; Junji (Neyagawa, JP), Manabe; Shinya (Takarazuki, JP)

Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.

International Classification: H02J 7/00 (20060101); H02J 007/00 ()

Expiration Date: 10/12016