Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080212984 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a replaceable constituent element; an information storage unit that holds information indicating a type of the constituent element received by a user interface; and a life calculation controller that, when at least one piece of the information stored in the information storage unit indicates a particular type, performs control to suppress calculation of a life of the constituent element. | 09-04-2008 |
20080240745 | IMAGE PROCESSOR - An image processor includes a main body and a consumable product which is replaceably installed to the main body is provided with a storage configured to store a table to which a record indicative of a usage status of the consumable product is to be successively added, an installation detection unit configured to detect that the consumable product is newly installed, a judging unit configured to judge whether the newly installed consumable product has been used in the main body continuously or discontinuously when the detection unit detects that the consumable product is newly installed. A usage status detection unit detects the usage status of the consumable product. A controller updates the latest record of the table if the consumable product has been continuously used, while creates a new record to be added to the table if the consumable product has been used discontinuously. | 10-02-2008 |
20090016744 | ABNORMAL USAGE DETECTION - A method and system compare actual consumable usage (e.g., toner usage) with expected consumable usage in a xerographic machine, such as a printer or copier. Expected toner usage may be predicted from pixel count (area coverage) and actual usage is obtained from monitoring of consumable usage, such as from toner dispense data or toner bottle replacements. If the actual toner usage differs significantly from the expected toner usage (e.g., ±40%), the system may take some action, such as scheduling of a service call. Early detection of abnormal consumable usage in a xerographic machine may allow early correction before any noticeable image defects occur, such as images that are too light or too dark. | 01-15-2009 |
20090034994 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image forming apparatus includes a detachable consumable part having a storage unit configured to store information. The image forming apparatus includes a counting unit configured to count the number of times of access to the storage unit, a measurement unit configured to measure a used amount of the consumable part, and an access control unit configured to control an access frequency to the storage unit based on the counted number of times of access and the used amount of the consumable part. | 02-05-2009 |
20090041483 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF IMAGE FORMATION - Upon generation of an image forming request, a control unit sets a request flag in a nonvolatile rewritable memory. A toner consumption monitoring unit calculates amount of toner consumption during a process of image formation based on the image forming request and the request flag. Upon completion of the process of image formation, the control unit deletes the request flag from the memory unit. Thus, it becomes possible to determine whether the amount of toner consumption is correctly updated based on the request flag and accurately monitor the amount of toner consumption. | 02-12-2009 |
20090080911 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MESSAGES ON A PRINTING COMPONENT - A consumable printing component for use in a printing device includes an imaging member and a memory storing message data. In response to a trigger event, a message is formed on the imaging member at the end of a print job such that the message remains on the imaging member. | 03-26-2009 |
20100092187 | METHOD OF INITIALIZING NEW CONSUMABLE PART ACCORDING TO REPLACEMENT OF OLD CONSUMABLE PART IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING THE METHOD - A method of initializing an amount of use of a new consumable part according to replacement of an old consumable part and an image forming apparatus and system for performing the method, the method involves, when the old consumable part is replaced by the new consumable part excluding a memory in an image forming apparatus, transmitting identification information of the image forming apparatus and of the consumable part to a management server; determining whether initialization has been already performed on the amount of use of the new consumable part, wherein the determining is conducted by the management server that uses the identification information of the image forming apparatus and of the new consumable part; generating and transmitting an executable file for initialization of the amount of use of the new consumable part, if the initialization has not been performed on the amount of use of the new consumable part; and initializing the new consumable part by using the executable file. | 04-15-2010 |
20100104295 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND OUTPUT SETTING METHOD OF CONSUMED STATUS OF CONSUMABLE ITEMS OF THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus which uses a consumable item is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a consumed status detecting unit which detects a value of the consumed status of the consumable item, a determining unit which determines whether to output an exchange message of the consumable item by comparing the value of the consumed status of the consumable item detected by the consumed status detecting unit with a predetermined value, an exchange message output setting unit which sets presence or non-presence of an output of the exchange message, and a consumed status output setting unit which sets presence or non-presence of an output of the consumed status of the consumable item detected by the consumed status detecting unit. | 04-29-2010 |
20100202787 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CONSUMABLE ITEM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus includes a prediction unit, an inquiry unit and a request unit. The inquiry unit judges whether or not the prediction unit deals with a type of a consumable item used in image formation processing. The request unit transmits use history information to a consumable item management apparatus and requests the consumable item management apparatus to predict a remaining usable period of the consumable item when the inquiry unit judges the prediction unit does not deal with the type of the consumable item in the image formation processing. The use history information indicates a use history of the consumable item. The prediction unit predicts the remaining usable period of the consumable item using the use history information in the image formation processing when the inquiry unit judges the first prediction unit deals with the type of the consumable item used in image formation processing. | 08-12-2010 |
20100278546 | SELECTIVE JOB AGGREGATION - A selective job aggregation method includes identifying a predetermined usage match between a first consumable component and a second consumable component of printer device. Print jobs are then selectively aggregated to encourage expiration of a first expected useful life of the first consumable component to occur with expiration of a second expected useful life of the second consumable component. | 11-04-2010 |
20100290793 | PRINTING SYSTEM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A printing system includes an instruction unit for instructing, in response to determination of using a reuse consumable in the case of replacement of a consumable of an image forming apparatus, a setting to be changed according to the replacement with the reuse consumable, wherein the setting instructed by the instruction unit is performed in the image forming apparatus after the replacement with the reuse consumable. | 11-18-2010 |
20110091223 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND OUTPUT SETTING METHOD OF CONSUMED STATUS OF CONSUMABLE ITEMS OF THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus which uses a consumable item is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a consumed status detecting unit which detects a value of the consumed status of the consumable item, a determining unit which determines whether to output an exchange message of the consumable item by comparing the value of the consumed status of the consumable item detected by the consumed status detecting unit with a predetermined value, an exchange message output setting unit which sets presence or non-presence of an output of the exchange message, and a consumed status output setting unit which sets presence or non-presence of an output of the consumed status of the consumable item detected by the consumed status detecting unit. | 04-21-2011 |
20110116814 | ERROR CORRECTION IN A MULTICOLOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT ENGINE - A method and system for printing image documents using a variety of toners where some toners using a multi-development station having two or more development stations. These toners are co-printed prior to fixing, on the receiver by the multi-development station. | 05-19-2011 |
20110116815 | Image Forming Apparatus and Method of Giving Alarm of Consumable Supply Near-End State in Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a toner bottle and a paper feed tray; sensors rendered operable immediately after the image forming apparatus is powered on, outputting detection signals that assume different values depending on whether remaining amount of toner or recording paper is lower than a prescribed value; a main control unit, rendered operable after a prescribed activating process after power-on of the image forming apparatus, for controlling the image forming unit; and an alarm device including an LED that is turned on to give an alarm if any consumable supply such as toner is in a near end state, in response to an output from the sensors. | 05-19-2011 |
20110255883 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a developing device including a developer bearing member for bearing and conveying a developer and configured to develop a latent image formed on an image bearing member using the developer, a bias application unit configured to apply at least an AC bias to the developer bearing member, an integration unit configured to integrate an application time of the AC bias applied by the bias application unit, and a determination unit configured to determine a replacement timing of the developing device based on an integrated value by the integration unit. | 10-20-2011 |
20110274447 | PROCESS UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A process unit including a first housing detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus, an image carrier to carry an image on a surface thereof, a charger to charge the surface of the image carrier, a developing device to form the image on the surface of the image carrier, a cleaning device to remove toner from the surface of the image carrier, a lubricant to be supplied to the surface of the image carrier, a lubricant container to contain the lubricant, and a waste toner container to store the toner removed from the surface of the image carrier. The first housing includes the image carrier and at least one of the charger, the developing device, and the cleaning device. The lubricant, the lubricant container, and the waste toner container together are detachably attachable to the first housing. | 11-10-2011 |
20110293295 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a first unit including means contributable to image formation; a second unit constituting a pair with the first unit and including means contributable to the image formation; a detecting device for detecting a degree of use of each of the first unit and the second unit, wherein limits of usability are predetermined for the first unit and the second unit, respectively; and a control device capable of outputting information signals for notifying states near the limits of usability on the basis of preset thresholds of degrees of use, respectively, wherein a number of capable image formations from an output of the signal indicating the near state for the first unit to the limit of usability of the first unit is larger than a number of capable image formations from an output of the signal indicating the near state for said second unit to the limit of usability of the second unit, and wherein the control device outputs the signal for the second unit when the degree of the second unit reaches a second threshold of degree, and the control device outputs the signal for the first unit when a condition that the degree of the first unit reaches a first threshold of degree of the first unit and a condition that the degree of the second unit reaches a second threshold of degree are satisfied. | 12-01-2011 |
20120020682 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND MANAGEMENT METHOD EMPLOYED BY IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including a plurality of replaceable parts and a control section which manages an accumulated amount of work of each of the parts; wherein the control section comprises reference values for replacement of each of the parts and performs, a first mode which carries out a prescribed control in case where an accumulated amount of work of any one of parts of the plurality of parts reaches one of the reference values for replacement; and, a second mode which carries out the prescribed control in case where an accumulated amount of work of a specific part of the plurality of parts reaches one of the reference values for replacement. | 01-26-2012 |
20120027429 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND OUTPUT SETTING METHOD OF CONSUMED STATUS OF CONSUMABLE ITEMS OF THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus which uses a consumable item is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a consumed status detecting unit which detects a value of the consumed status of the consumable item, a determining unit which determines whether to output an exchange message of the consumable item by comparing the value of the consumed status of the consumable item detected by the consumed status detecting unit with a predetermined value, an exchange message output setting unit which sets presence or non-presence of an output of the exchange message, and a consumed status output setting unit which sets presence or non-presence of an output of the consumed status of the consumable item detected by the consumed status detecting unit. | 02-02-2012 |
20120045224 | Method for Delaying the Start of a Gage for Tracking the Life of a Consumable Item for an Imaging Device - A method for delaying the start of a gage for tracking the life of a consumable item for an imaging device according to one exemplary embodiment includes counting the number of revolutions of a rotating imaging component having a correlation with the life of the consumable item and determining whether a predetermined delay threshold is satisfied based on the number of revolutions of the imaging component counted. Until the predetermined delay threshold is satisfied, starting the gage and tracking the remaining life of the consumable item are delayed. | 02-23-2012 |
20120070161 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING CONTROL METHOD - An image forming apparatus having a fixing part fixing a toner image onto a recording medium by heating it, includes an ambient temperature predicting part predicting an ambient temperature from a fixing temperature rising period of time taken until the fixing part reaches a certain temperature; a member temperature predicting part predicting a member temperature of a member from the predicted ambient temperature and an operating state of the image forming apparatus; a cumulative-used-service-lifetime calculating part calculating a current cumulative used service lifetime from the predicted member temperature, the operating state of the image forming apparatus and an immediately preceding cumulative used service lifetime; a limit-of-usable-period-of-time calculating part calculating a limit of usable period of time by subtracting the calculated current cumulative used service lifetime from a service lifetime of the member; and a reporting part reporting the calculated limit of usable period of time. | 03-22-2012 |
20120076515 | REPLENISHING CONSUMABLE AT SERVICE TIME IN PRINTER - A receptacle in the printing system can hold either a first consumable stored in a first replaceable unit (RU) [customer-RU (CRU)], or a second consumable stored in a second RU. A marking engine prints selected print jobs having corresponding data at corresponding times on corresponding receivers, and a monitoring system records the data and times for a plurality of the jobs. A cost-estimating unit responsive to a received schedule including a plurality of service times uses the recorded corresponding data and the recorded corresponding times to estimate respective costs of installing the first and second RUs in the receptacle at a selected one of the service times. A decision unit decides which RU should be installed in the receptacle at the selected service time using the costs. An interface responsive to the decision unit indicates that the selected RU should be installed in the receptacle at the selected service time. | 03-29-2012 |
20120076516 | INDICATING CONSUMABLE REPLENISHMENT TIME - A printing system for indicating when to replenish a consumable includes a front end for providing a plurality of print jobs to be printed, each job having corresponding data. A marking engine uses a consumable to print selected jobs at corresponding times on corresponding receivers. A monitoring system records the corresponding data and corresponding times for a plurality of the jobs on the marking engine. A life-estimating unit estimates the end of life of the consumable using the recorded corresponding data and recorded corresponding times. An interface responsive to the life-estimating unit indicates that the consumable should be replenished. | 03-29-2012 |
20120076517 | EFFECTIVELY USING A CONSUMABLE IN TWO PRINTERS - In a multi-printer system with two marking engines, the jobs printed are monitored and the remaining lives of consumables in replaceable units (RUs) in the engines are estimated. A decision unit responsive to the estimated lives of the consumables determines that the first RU in the first marking engine should be moved to the second marking engine at a selected service time, so that a remaining amount of the consumable in the first RU is not discarded. | 03-29-2012 |
20120076518 | EFFECTIVELY USING TWO CONSUMABLES IN SINGLE PRINTER - A printing system for indicating a replaceable unit (RU) should be removed from a marking engine so that the consumable in the replaceable unit is not discarded includes a receptacle for holding the RU and a marking engine for using the consumable in the RU to print selected jobs. The jobs printed are monitored. A scheduling system responsive to a personnel schedule indicating service times and to the monitored print data selects a service time at which the RU should be removed from the receptacle and another at which it should be reinstalled in the receptacle, so that consumable in the RU is not discarded. | 03-29-2012 |
20120148269 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A main control section | 06-14-2012 |
20120163839 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONSUMABLE SUPPLY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms an image, a plurality of detectors that detect an amount of variation of indicators respectively determining an amount consumed of the consumable supply, a determination section that determines whether or not the amount of variation has reached any one of first lifespan values, an interruption section that interrupts an image forming operation based on the first lifespan values, and an extension setting section that inhibits the interruption of the image forming operation and sets an extension mode of extending a period of execution of the image forming operation, wherein the determination section determines whether or not an amount of variation of one indicator has reached an extended lifespan value when the extension mode is set, and wherein the interruption section interrupts the image forming operation based on extended lifespan value when the extension mode is set. | 06-28-2012 |
20120213534 | IMAGE FORMATION DEVICE - An image formation device for use with a consumable removably loaded therein, the consumable including a non-volatile consumable memory, the image formation device including: a non-volatile device memory; an abnormality detection unit detecting an abnormality pertaining to the consumable; a detection registration unit registering abnormality detection data into both memories when the abnormality pertains to the consumable and no relevant abnormality data are registered in either memory, the abnormality detection data representing the detected abnormality; a confirmation registration unit registering abnormality confirmation data after the consumable has been exchanged and new abnormality detection data pertaining to a new abnormality detected by the abnormality detection unit are registered in only one of the memories, the abnormality confirmation data replacing the new abnormality detection data in the appropriate memory; and a confirmation notification unit making a notification of abnormality confirmation when the abnormality confirmation data are registered by the confirmation registration unit. | 08-23-2012 |
20120308245 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND OUTPUT SETTING METHOD OF CONSUMED STATUS OF CONSUMABLE ITEMS OF THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An apparatus in which a plurality of consumable items are loadable to the apparatus. The apparatus includes a consumption status detecting unit to detect a respective consumption status of each of the consumable items, a consumption information output setting unit to set whether an exchange message for each of the consumable items is to be output, and a consumable item information output unit to output the exchange message, which is indicative of an exchange time of the respective consumable item, based on the respective consumption statuses detected by the consumption status detecting unit and the setting of the consumption information output setting unit. | 12-06-2012 |
20130045017 | IMAGE FORMING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming unit includes an image forming part forming an image, and a developer containing part containing a developer, removably installed to the image forming part, and supplying the developer to the image forming part. The image forming part includes a first memory part storing first usage information indicating usage information of the image forming part and second usage information indicating usage information of the developer in the image forming part. | 02-21-2013 |
20130108285 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREMATURE CONSUMABLE REPLACEMENT DETECTION ON PRINTING SYSTEMS | 05-02-2013 |
20130136463 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND OUTPUT SETTING METHOD OF CONSUMED STATUS OF CONSUMABLE ITEMS OF THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An apparatus in which a plurality of consumable items are loadable to the apparatus. The apparatus includes a consumption status detecting unit to detect a respective consumption status of each of the consumable items, a consumption information output setting unit to set whether an exchange message for each of the consumable items is to be output, and a consumable item information output unit to output the exchange message, which is indicative of an exchange time of the respective consumable item, based on the respective consumption statuses detected by the consumption status detecting unit and the setting of the consumption information output setting unit. | 05-30-2013 |
20130183048 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image forming apparatus configured to form a color image by having at least one consumable product, the image forming apparatus including a main board, a first memory unit detachably coupled to the main body, a consumable product memory unit installed at the consumable product, and configured to store information on a lifespan of the consumable product, and a control unit configured to read the information on the lifespan of the consumable product from the consumable product memory unit, and to store the information on the lifespan of the consumable product at the first memory unit in the form of a backup. | 07-18-2013 |
20130230331 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, includes: a cartridge, detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, including a memory and an image forming process member actable on an image bearing member in an image forming process; and an image density measuring portion, provided in the main assembly, for measuring a density of a developer image formed by the image forming process. The memory stores information for discriminating a state of the image forming process member on the basis of the density, measured by the image density measuring portion, of the developer image formed under an image forming condition different from that during normal image formation. | 09-05-2013 |
20130236198 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FORECASTING SUPPLY OR SERVICE CONSUMPTION FOR A PRINTING DEVICE - Methods and systems of forecasting consumption of a consumable for a machine are disclosed. A computing device receives consumption time series data for a consumable for a plurality of machines. The consumption time series data for each machine includes an amount of the consumable consumed by the machine during each of multiple time periods. For at least one of the plurality of machines, the computing device determines a model consumption forecast for the machine for each of multiple dynamic linear models based on the consumption time series data for the consumable for the machine and the dynamic linear model. The computing device further determines, for at least one of the machines, a final consumption forecast based on the model consumption forecasts. An amount of the consumable is provided for the at least one machine based on the final consumption forecast. | 09-12-2013 |
20130243449 | LUBRICANT SUPPLYING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A lubricant supplying device includes: lubricant; a supplying member that supplies the lubricant to a lubricant supply target; and a remaining amount detecting unit that detects that a remaining amount of the lubricant is equal to or smaller than a certain amount. The remaining amount detecting unit includes a first electrode member and a second electrode member. The lubricant supplying device further comprises a member that causes at least a part of the second electrode member to move and causes the second electrode member to abut the first electrode member with an increase in consumption of the lubricant. | 09-19-2013 |
20130251380 | LUBRICANT SUPPLYING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - In an embodiment, provided is a lubricant supplying device that includes: a solid lubricant; a supplying member that supplies lubricant of the solid lubricant to a lubricant supplying target; and a remaining amount detecting unit that detects an amount of the solid lubricant being at a given amount or less. The remaining amount detecting unit is provided on a downstream side in a rubbing direction of the supplying member with respect to the solid lubricant. | 09-26-2013 |
20130251381 | LUBRICANT SUPPLYING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In the present invention, a lubricant supplying device includes a lubricant end determining unit that determines that a solid lubricant is in an end state when the amount of a lubricant supplying operation reaches a threshold after a residual amount detecting unit detects that the residual amount of the solid lubricant is equal to or smaller than a predetermined amount. The lubricant end determining unit makes a threshold of the amount of the lubricant supplying operation at temperature or humidity of equal to or lower than a predetermined value lower than a threshold of the amount of the lubricant supplying operation at temperature or humidity of higher than the predetermined value. | 09-26-2013 |
20130279923 | LUBRICANT SUPPLYING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A lubricant supplying device includes: lubricant; a supplying member; a housing case; a pushing mechanism that includes a pair of swing members supported swingably in the housing case and a biasing unit urging the pair of swing members to swing; and a remaining amount detecting unit that detects that a remaining amount of the lubricant is equal to or smaller than a predetermined amount. The remaining amount detecting unit includes: first detection members provided at respective positions different from respective sliding areas of the member on which the swing members slide, on which sliding areas the respective swing members slide, and second detection members attached to the respective swing members such that the second detection members abut or face the respective first detection members when swing postures of the respective swing members reach respective swing postures corresponding to that the remaining amount of the lubricant is the predetermined amount. | 10-24-2013 |
20130279924 | Printing Consumables Chips And Containers - The invention provides a printing consumables chip. The printing consumables chip comprises a base plate which is provided with a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and an electronic module which connects with the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact. The electronic module comprises a microcontroller, a power circuit, a modulation circuit, and a clock circuit which provides a clock signal to the microcontroller. The modulation circuit comprises a switch device. A control terminal of the switch device is connected with a first pin of the microcontroller and two output terminals of the switch device are connected with the first electrical contact and the ground, respectively. The clock circuit comprises a comparison unit. A first input terminal of the comparison unit is connected with an external clock signal and a second input terminal of the comparison unit is connected with a reference voltage. An output terminal of the comparison unit is connected with the microcontroller. The first pin receives the control signal from the output terminal of the comparison unit, and the control terminal of the switch device is connected with a second pin of the microcontroller. | 10-24-2013 |
20130322895 | IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS AND FIXATION DEVICE - A fixation unit includes a fixation member and a housing containing therein the fixation member. The fixation member is configured to thermally fix a developer image onto a medium being conveyed from an image formation unit to the fixation unit along a medium conveyance path, wherein the developer image is formed at the image formation unit and transferred onto the medium by the image formation unit. The developer attachment member is replaceably provided to the fixation unit and configured to attach thereto a part of the developer that is scattered in the neighborhood of the conveyance path. | 12-05-2013 |
20140037302 | LUBRICANT APPLICATOR, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A lubricant applicator includes a block of lubricant, a supply member contactable against the block of lubricant to scrape the block of lubricant, and a lubricant gauge to detect whether a remaining amount of lubricant is less than a threshold value. The lubricant gauge includes a rotary member rotatable about a pivot, a pressing member disposed opposite the rotary member to rotate the rotary member by pressing a contact part of the rotary member as the block of lubricant is consumed, and a detection part of the rotary member opposite to the contact part across the pivot of the rotary member. A length of the rotary member from the pivot to the detection part is longer than a length of the rotary member from the pivot to the contact part. | 02-06-2014 |
20140037303 | LUBRICANT APPLICATOR, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A lubricant applicator includes a block of lubricant, a supply member contactable against the block of lubricant to scrape the block of lubricant, and a lubricant gauge including a first electrode and a second electrode. The lubricant gauge is electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode to detect whether an amount of lubricant remaining is less than a threshold value based on establishment of electrical continuity between the first electrode and the second electrode. One of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a projection projecting toward the other one of the first electrode and the second electrode. | 02-06-2014 |
20140037304 | LUBRICANT APPLICATOR, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A lubricant applicator includes a lubricant, a supply member contactable against the lubricant to supply the lubricant to a target, and a lubricant gauge to detect whether an amount of lubricant remaining is less than a threshold value. The lubricant gauge includes a rotary member rotatable about a shaft, a pressing member to press and rotate the rotary member as the lubricant is consumed, a contact part of the rotary member pressed by the pressing member, and a detection part of the rotary member opposite to the contact part across the shaft of the rotary member. | 02-06-2014 |
20140079412 | DETERMINATION OF EFFECTIVE AMOUNT OF REMAINING LIFE OF TONER CARTRIDGE - An image forming system includes at least one toner cartridge, an image forming unit, and a cartridge life determination module. The toner cartridge may include toner and at least one component. The image forming unit may selectively form an image in one of a low coverage mode and a high coverage mode such that a greater amount of the toner is used in the high coverage mode than the low coverage mode in a formation of the respective image. The cartridge life determination module may determine an amount of remaining life of the toner, an amount of remaining life of the at least one component, and an effective amount of remaining life of the at least one toner cartridge based on the amount of remaining life of the toner and the amount of remaining life of the at least one component. | 03-20-2014 |
20140105619 | Methods for Providing a Page Countdown for a Replaceable Unit of an Image Forming Device - A method for providing a page countdown for a replaceable unit of an image forming device according to one embodiment includes calculating a number of pages remaining until the replaceable unit will reach the end of its life. The calculated number of pages remaining until the replaceable unit will reach the end of life is displayed on a display screen. After the calculated number of pages remaining is displayed, the displayed number of pages remaining is decreased by one for each page printed, the number of pages remaining is recalculated and a discrepancy between the displayed number of pages remaining and the recalculated number of pages remaining is tracked. If the discrepancy exceeds a predetermined error threshold, the recalculated number of pages remaining is displayed and the displayed number of pages remaining continues to be decreased by one for each page printed from the displayed recalculated number of pages remaining. | 04-17-2014 |
20140105620 | Methods for Providing an Estimated Replacement Date for a Replaceable Unit of an Image Forming Device - A method for providing an indication of when a replaceable unit of an image forming device will require replacement according to one example embodiment includes determining an average usage of the replaceable unit per day. Whether the replaceable unit is near the end of its life is also determined. After determining that the replaceable unit is near the end of its life, a number of days remaining until the replaceable unit will require replacement is displayed on a display screen of at least one of the image forming device and a device in electronic communication with the image forming device based on the determined average usage of the replaceable unit per day. | 04-17-2014 |
20140186061 | IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - An image formation apparatus includes an image formation apparatus body, and a replacement member detachably provided in the image formation apparatus body and configured to be used for image formation. The replacement member includes a first storage to store a life determination value used in life determination of the replacement member. The image formation apparatus body includes a connection section configured to be connected to the first storage of the replacement member, and a controller configured to operate in: a first processing mode of accessing the first storage of the replacement member to acquire the life determination value and managing the life of the replacement member based on the acquired life determination value; and a second processing mode of managing the life of the replacement member such that the quality of image formation using the replacement member is not lower than that obtained through operation in the first processing mode. | 07-03-2014 |
20140363178 | LUBRICANT SUPPLY SYSTEM, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A solid lubricant supply system includes a solid lubricant supplier to receive and supply solid lubricant to a solid lubricant supplying target. A pair of first and second moveable planar electrodes is opposed to each other. The second moveable planar electrode is partially moved toward the first moveable planar electrode as the solid lubricant is consumed. A residual solid lubricant quantity detecting unit is provide to detect a quantity of the residual solid lubricant at a first stage, in which the residual solid lubricant quantity is below a given level, by detecting electric conduction between the pair of first and second moveable planar electrodes when the pair of first and second moveable planar electrodes contacts each other. The first moveable planar electrode is enabled to further move together with the second moveable planar electrode when it is contacted and pressed by the second moveable planar electrode. | 12-11-2014 |
20150117876 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a transfer belt configured to be charged to an opposite polarity to the surface of the photosensitive drum to electrostatically attract a recording paper sheet and convey the sheet while pressing the sheet against the photosensitive drum, thereby transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum to the sheet; a fixing section configured to apply heat to the recording paper sheet having the toner image transferred thereto and thus fix the toner image on the sheet; a toner collecting member disposed to face a separating position where the recording paper sheet is separated from the transfer belt and extending in a width direction of the sheet being conveyed, the toner collecting member being electrically grounded; and a thermally conductive member configured to collect heat near the fixing section and conduct the collected heat to the toner collecting member. | 04-30-2015 |
20150132017 | DEVICE FAILURE PREDICTOR AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A device failure predictor includes data acquisition unit to acquire internal data of a target device, a peak value calculator to calculate a plurality of peak values of the internal data for a prescribed period of time, and a failure sign identification unit to set individual criteria for the plurality of peak values and determine whether or not the target device shows signs of failure according to the plurality of peak values and the individual criteria. | 05-14-2015 |
20150301498 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit that fixes an image, an obtaining unit that obtains information regarding conveying time taken to convey a recording material, a detection unit that detects information regarding an environment, and a control unit configured to determine, based on the information regarding the conveying time and the information regarding the environment, a timing at which the fixing unit is replaced. | 10-22-2015 |
20150370207 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF WARNING LIFE OF CHARGING ROLLER IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a charging roller, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a sampling part, a life consumption degree calculating part and a warning processing part. The sampling part executes temperature/humidity inputting process inputting temperature of the temperature sensor and humidity of the humidity sensor. The life consumption degree calculating part calculates a life consumption degree of the charging roller from a last time to a present time in the temperature/humidity inputting process by applying respective representative values of last and present inputted temperature and humidity into a model formula. The warning processing part outputs a warning when an addition value of the life consumption degrees exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The life consumption degree calculating part uses the model formula deriving larger life consumption degree in a case where the representative value of the temperature and the representative value of the humidity are respectively larger. | 12-24-2015 |
20160033921 | CRUM UNIT MOUNTABLE AND DISMOUNTABLE IN CONSUMABLE UNIT OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A CRUM unit which is mountable/dismountable on an image forming apparatus is disclosed. The CRUM unit includes a power extracting circuit configured to, when a clock signal is received from an image forming apparatus, extract power from a high value of the clock signal and store in a capacitive element and a controller configured to operate using the extracted power, wherein the clock signal has a first pulse width in a data section where a data signal is received and transmitted, and has a second pulse width which is different from the first pulse width in an pause section where a data signal is not received. | 02-04-2016 |
20160139552 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD OF CONTACTING/SEPARATING STATE OF COMPONENT - The image forming apparatus comprises a photosensitive drum which is replaceable, an intermediate transfer belt unit which is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum to operate and which is replaceable, and a separation motor configured to move the intermediate transfer belt unit in a direction toward to the photosensitive drum and in a direction away from the photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus causes the separation motor to separate the intermediate transfer belt unit and the photosensitive drum from each other in a case where at least one of the photosensitive drum and the intermediate transfer belt unit reaches the replacement timing when the image forming apparatus shifts to a low-power state in which power consumption of the image forming apparatus is suppressed compared with that of the image forming apparatus in a normal operation. A document reading apparatus including a prediction unit. | 05-19-2016 |