Image forming apparatus, display method, and information processing apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image formation apparatus which suppresses an error in the delivery timing.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus includes a consumable supply used for image formation. The image formation apparatus includes: a use amount detection unit 302 which detects a cumulative value of the used amount and the residual amount of the consumable supply; a prediction unit 305 which predicts a usable period of the consumable supply on the basis of the residual amount detected by the use amount detection unit 302; and a determination unit 306 which generates a delivery request signal for urging a delivery request of the consumable supply when the usable period predicted by the prediction unit 305 is smaller than a prescribed day number threshold. The image formation apparatus does not perform generation processing of the delivery request signal by the determination unit 306 in a period from the use start of the image formation apparatus to the establishment of a prescribed condition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for managing consumables in an apparatus such as an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] An image forming apparatus forms and outputs an image on a recording material such as paper. Such image forming apparatuses include electrophotographic copying machines, printers, facsimiles, inkjet printers, and multifunction machines that add an image reading function to these devices. An image forming apparatus uses toner, ink, paper, and the like to form an image with parts related to image formation (photoconductor, etc.). Toner, ink, paper, etc. are consumables that are consumed by image formation. Photoconductors, etc. are consumables that cannot perform their original functions due to contamination by toner or ink during image formation or wear of the rubbing parts. Consumables such as photoconductors have a part life. When consumables are completely consumed or parts reach the end of their part life, normal image formation is affected in an image forming apparatus.

[0003] In order to operate an image forming device stably, the following is done. That is, the image forming device notifies the user to prepare replacement consumables before the consumables are completely consumed or before the parts reach the end of their life. The user procures the consumables in response to this notification, and promptly replaces the consumables when it becomes necessary to replenish or replace the consumables (hereinafter simply referred to as "replacement"). Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for a consumables management system related to the procurement of consumables. This system includes an image forming device that requests the delivery of consumables when the actual remaining amount of the consumables falls below a reference remaining amount (threshold value) determined from the predicted remaining amount of the consumables and the number of days required for delivery of the consumables. The predicted remaining amount is calculated based on the user's past usage history of the consumables. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-37596 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When calculating a future demand forecast (forecasted remaining amount) based on a user's past usage history of consumables, it is common to apply the demand forecast to a mathematical model obtained from the usage history. However, in the early stages after installation of an image forming apparatus, errors in the demand forecast become large due to two factors. The first factor is usage that differs from the user's normal usage in the early stages after installation. Examples of usage that differs from the user's normal usage include test output associated with installation preparation work and an increase in usage opportunities due to novelty that arouses the user's curiosity immediately after installation. The second factor is that the number of past usage histories (history data) to be applied to the mathematical model is small, so that when new history data is obtained, the impact of errors contained in the data is large.

[0006] For these reasons, errors in demand forecasts at the initial stage of installation can lead to errors in delivery timing. As a result, consumables may be delivered earlier than the time when they actually need to be replaced. This requires users to manage the inventory of newly delivered consumables for a long time.

[0007] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to reduce errors in delivery timing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus in which a toner container containing toner is detachable and which forms an image on a sheet using the toner in the toner container, and is equipped with an acquisition means for acquiring consumption data relating to the amount of toner consumed when the image forming apparatus forms an image, a determination means for determining the number of days remaining until the date on which the toner container attached to the image forming apparatus is expected to be replaced based on the consumption data acquired by the acquisition means, and a display means for displaying the number of days remaining determined by the determination means, and the display means is configured to display the number of days remaining regardless of the number of days remaining determined by the determination means. If not met, a predetermined number of days will be displayed as the remaining number of days. It is characterized by: Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, errors in delivery timing can be suppressed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a toner supply operation. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of a usage amount detection unit. [Diagram 5] 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of a prediction unit. [Figure 6] 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of a determination unit. [Figure 7] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed in response to a delivery request signal. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the controller. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of a prediction unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] (Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus) 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. Various methods, such as an electrophotographic method, an offset printing method, and an inkjet method, can be applied to the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. Here, an image forming apparatus 101 using an electrophotographic method will be described.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 101 is an intermediate transfer tandem type in which a plurality of image forming units 110Y, 110M, 110C, and 110K corresponding to four colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) are arranged along the intermediate transfer belt 1. At the end of the reference numerals, Y stands for yellow, M for magenta, C for cyan, and K for black. In the following description, when it is not necessary to describe each color, the suffixes Y, M, C, and K at the end of the reference numerals are omitted. The image forming unit 110Y forms a yellow toner image, the image forming unit 110M forms a magenta toner image, the image forming unit 110C forms a cyan toner image, and the image forming unit 110K forms a black toner image. The toner images of each color are transferred from the image forming units 110Y, 110M, 110C, and 110K to the intermediate transfer belt 1 so as to be superimposed on each other. The intermediate transfer belt 1 transfers a toner image onto a recording material S transported by a paper transport unit 150, thereby forming an image on the recording material S. The toner image transferred onto the recording material S is fixed onto the recording material S by a fixing device 158.

[0014] The conveying process of the recording material S by the paper conveying unit 150 will be described. The recording material S is stored in the recording material storage unit 151 and is stacked on the lift-up unit 152. The recording material S is fed from the recording material storage unit 151 to a paper feed conveying path 154 by a paper feed roller 153. The paper feed operation is started according to the timing of image formation in the image forming units 110Y, 110M, 110C, and 110K. The recording material S is conveyed to the paper feed conveying path 154 up to a registration roller 155. The registration roller 155 corrects the skew of the recording material S with respect to the conveying direction, adjusts the timing to resume conveying, and conveys the recording material S to the secondary transfer unit. The secondary transfer unit is a transfer nip unit constituted by two transfer members, a secondary transfer inner drive roller 2 and a secondary transfer outer drive roller 156, which are arranged opposite to each other. The secondary transfer portion transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 1 to the recording material S by applying a predetermined pressure and an electrostatic load bias.

[0015] The image forming process in which the toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit in accordance with the timing at which the recording material S is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit will be described. The image forming units 110Y, 110M, 110C, and 110K have the same configuration and perform the same operation, except that the colors of the toner images they form are different. Below, the configuration and operation of the image forming unit 110Y will be described, and descriptions of the other image forming units 110M, 110C, and 110K will be omitted.

[0016] The image forming section Y as a toner image forming section includes a photoconductor 111 as an image carrier, a charger 112, a developer 114, a primary transfer roller 115, and a photoconductor cleaner 116. A scanner unit 117 including a laser and a polygon mirror correction system lens is provided near the image forming section Y. The photoconductor 111 is drum-shaped and rotates in the direction of the arrow m. The charger 112 uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 111. The scanner unit 117 irradiates the charged surface (exposure section 113) of the photoconductor 111 with a laser beam modulated according to image pixel information (information such as the position of each pixel constituting the image) representing the image to be formed. As a result, an electrostatic latent image according to the image pixel information is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 111. The developer 114 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 111 with electrostatically charged yellow toner (developer). As a result, a yellow toner image is formed on the photoconductor 111. Similarly, a magenta toner image is formed on the photoconductor of image forming station M, a cyan toner image is formed on the photoconductor of image forming station C, and a black toner image is formed on the photoconductor of image forming station K.

[0017] A predetermined pressure and electrostatic load bias are applied to the primary transfer roller 115, which transfers the yellow toner image from the photoconductor 111 onto the intermediate transfer belt 1. Residual toner remaining on the photoconductor 111 after transfer is collected by a photoconductor cleaner 116. The photoconductor 111 prepares for the next image formation by collecting the residual toner. Similarly, a magenta toner image formed on the photoconductor of the image forming station M, a cyan toner image formed on the photoconductor of the image forming station C, and a black toner image formed on the photoconductor of the image forming station K are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 1 in sequence, superimposed on the yellow toner image.

[0018] As described above, the image forming process of each color is performed in parallel by the image forming units 110Y, 110M, 110C, and 110K. The image forming process performed by each image forming unit 110Y, 110M, 110C, and 110K is performed at the timing when the toner images of each color are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 1 in a superimposed manner in sequence. As a result, a full-color toner image is finally formed on the intermediate transfer belt 1. The full-color toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit by the intermediate transfer belt 1. In this embodiment, a configuration in which toner images of four colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, are formed has been described, but the number of colors is not limited to this. In addition, the arrangement of the image forming units 110 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 1.

[0019] The intermediate transfer belt 1 is included in an intermediate transfer belt unit 102. The intermediate transfer belt unit 102 includes an internal drive roller 2 for tensioning the intermediate transfer belt 1, a tension roller 3, and a pre-secondary transfer roller 4. The internal drive roller 2 for secondary transfer serves as both a drive member and an internal member for secondary transfer. The tension roller 3 applies a predetermined tension to the intermediate transfer belt 1. The pre-secondary transfer roller 4 is a tension member. The intermediate transfer belt 1 is a belt member that is driven to be transported in the direction of arrow V by the internal drive roller 2 for secondary transfer. The intermediate transfer belt 1 is driven to be transported to transport the toner images transferred from each image forming unit 110 to the secondary transfer unit.

[0020] With respect to the conveying direction of the intermediate transfer belt 1 indicated by the arrow V, the secondary pre-transfer roller 4 is disposed upstream of the secondary transfer internal drive roller 2, and the tension roller 3 is disposed downstream of the secondary transfer internal drive roller 2. The primary transfer roller 115 of each image forming unit 110 is disposed between the tension roller 3 and the secondary pre-transfer roller 4. The tension roller 3 and the secondary pre-transfer roller 4 are not given a driving force and rotate following the conveyance of the intermediate transfer belt 1.

[0021] The tension roller 3 is movable in the direction of the arrow T (the direction of the intermediate transfer belt 1 stretched between the tension roller 3 and the secondary transfer pre-roller 4), and is biased by a biasing unit (not shown) in a direction to apply tension to the intermediate transfer belt 1. The outer peripheral surface of the secondary transfer internal drive roller 2 is formed of conductive EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber) so that the intermediate transfer belt 1 can be conveyed by frictional force in a state in which tension is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 1 by the tension roller 3. The initial friction resistance μ of the outer peripheral surface of the secondary transfer internal drive roller 2 is set to about 1.0 to 1.5. Note that the material of the secondary transfer internal drive roller 2 and the initial friction resistance of the outer peripheral surface are not limited to the above-mentioned configuration. An intermediate transfer cleaner 50 that removes toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 1 is fixedly attached to the tension roller 3 at a position opposite to the tension roller 3 with the intermediate transfer belt 1 sandwiched therebetween.

[0022] In this embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 1 is an endless belt made of polyimide, with a circumference of 792 mm, a width of 346 mm, and a thickness of 60 μm. The material of the intermediate transfer belt 1 is not limited to this, and an endless belt made of, for example, polycarbonate, PVDF, ETFE, PTFE, etc. can be used. The number of rollers that stretch the intermediate transfer belt 1 is not limited to the configuration in FIG. 1.

[0023] In the manner described above, the recording material S and the toner image are transported to the secondary transfer section. The secondary transfer section performs secondarily transferring the full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 1 onto the recording material S. The recording material S onto which the toner image has been transferred is transported from the secondary transfer section to a fixing device 158 via a pre-fixing transport section 157.

[0024] The fixing unit 158 ​​has various configurations and types, but in this embodiment, it is equipped with a fixing roller 159 and a pressure roller 160 arranged opposite to each other. The fixing unit 158 ​​melts and fixes the toner image on the recording material S by applying a predetermined pressure force and heat amount to the recording material S in a fixing nip formed by the fixing roller 159 and the pressure roller 160. The fixing roller 159 has a heater therein as a heat source. The pressure roller 160 is biased toward the fixing roller 159.

[0025] The recording material S on which the image has been fixed is transported by a flapper 163 from the fixing unit 158 ​​to discharge inversion rollers 161 or a double-sided transport path 164. When the recording material S is discharged to a discharge tray 162, the flapper 163 transports the recording material S to the discharge inversion rollers 161 side. When forming images on both sides (double-sided printing), the flapper 163 temporarily transports the recording material S to the discharge inversion rollers 161 side. Thereafter, the discharge inversion rollers 161 perform a switchback operation to switch the leading and trailing ends of the recording material S. During this time, the flapper 163 guides the recording material S, whose leading and trailing ends have been switched, to the double-sided transport path 164.

[0026] Thereafter, in synchronization with the recording material of the succeeding job being conveyed by the paper feed roller 153, the recording material S merges with the paper feed conveyance path 154 from the paper re-feed path 165, and an image is formed on the back side (second side). The recording material S is similarly conveyed to the secondary transfer section. The image formation process on the back side (second side) is the same as that on the front side (first side) described above.

[0027] (Toner supply from the toner bottle to the developer) 2 is an explanatory diagram of the supply operation of toner, which is a consumable item, from a toner bottle to the developing unit 114. In the image forming process, the developing unit 114 develops an electrostatic latent image with toner. The developing unit 114 contains toner therein, and consumes the toner during the developing operation. Therefore, the amount of toner in the developing unit 114 decreases every time the image forming process is performed. For this reason, the developing unit 114 needs to be replenished with toner from a toner bottle 140.

[0028] The developing device 114 includes a developing toner amount detection sensor 131 that detects the amount of toner contained therein. The developing device 114 also communicates with a toner bottle 140 via a hopper 132. When the amount of toner in the developing device 114 detected by the developing toner amount detection sensor 131 falls below a certain amount, the developing device 114 is replenished with toner from the hopper 132. The hopper 132 includes a supply screw 133 therein. By controlling the amount of rotation of the supply screw 133, the amount of toner supplied from the hopper 132 to the developing device 114 is kept constant.

[0029] When the amount of toner contained in hopper 132 falls below a predetermined amount, it becomes impossible to supply an accurate amount of toner from hopper 132 to developing unit 114, regardless of the amount of rotation of supply screw 133. Hopper 132 is equipped with hopper toner amount detection sensor 134 that detects the amount of toner contained therein. When the amount of toner in hopper 132 detected by hopper toner amount detection sensor 134 falls below a certain amount, toner is replenished to hopper 132 from toner bottle 140.

[0030] The developing toner amount detection sensor 131 and the hopper toner amount detection sensor 134 may be, for example, an inductance sensor that measures magnetic permeability, or a powder level sensor that uses a piezoelectric vibrator, but are not limited to these.

[0031] Toner bottle 140 is configured to be detachably attached to an attachment portion (not shown) provided in image forming apparatus 101. A supply port shutter of toner bottle 140 is opened when toner bottle 140 is attached to the attachment portion. A spiral toner transport portion is formed inside toner bottle 140. When an instruction is given to supply toner to hopper 132, toner bottle 140 rotates to transport toner in the direction of the supply port by the toner transport portion. Then, toner in toner bottle 140 is supplied to hopper 132 from the supply port.

[0032] In this way, the toner consumed by the developing device 114 is supplied from the toner bottle 140. Therefore, the toner in the toner bottle 140 decreases as the image forming process is performed. When the toner bottle 140 becomes low on toner, it is replaced with a new toner bottle. This allows the image forming apparatus 101 to continue executing the image forming process.

[0033] (Consumables delivery management) 3 is an explanatory diagram of a controller for managing the delivery of consumables used by the image forming apparatus 101 during image formation. The controller 300 is provided inside the image forming apparatus 101. Here, a case will be described in which the consumable is toner, but consumables are parts that are used in image formation and consumed, or have a set part life. For example, consumables include recording material S, photoconductor 111, intermediate transfer belt 1, etc. in addition to toner.

[0034] The controller 300 is connected to the scanner unit 117, the memory 304, and the operation panel 171. The controller 300 is also connected to a maintenance server 307 via a network such as a public line so as to be able to communicate with the maintenance server 307. The memory 304 is provided in the toner bottle 140 and stores the remaining amount of toner contained in the toner bottle 140 (toner remaining amount). When the toner bottle 140 is unused, the amount of toner filled at the time of production is stored in the memory 304 as an initial value of the toner remaining amount. Note that, instead of the amount of toner, for example, the weight of the toner bottle, the number of rotations of the toner bottle, and the number of times the replenishing operation using the toner bottle has been performed may be used. The toner remaining amount stored in the memory 304 is managed by the controller 300 so as to be rewritable. The operation panel 171 is a user interface that combines an input device such as a key button or a touch panel with an output device such as a display. The operation panel 171 is provided in the image forming apparatus 101, transmits instructions to the controller 300, and displays an image on the display under the control of the controller 300. Maintenance server 307 is an external server device connected to image forming apparatus 101 via a network, and includes a display that displays information in response to signals from controller 300. Maintenance server 307 is installed in a maintenance service facility operated by the distributor of image forming apparatus 101.

[0035] The controller 300 functions as an image controller 301, a usage amount detection unit 302, a replenishment controller 303, a prediction unit 305, a determination unit 306, a communication unit 308, a scanner controller 309, and a display controller 310. Each function of the controller 300 may be realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a predetermined computer program, or may be executed by hardware.

[0036] The image controller 301 transmits image pixel information to the scanner controller 309 and the usage amount detection unit 302. The scanner controller 309 generates a laser emission command according to the image pixel information acquired from the image controller 301 and transmits it to the scanner unit 117. The scanner unit 117 controls the emission timing by the laser emission command. The image controller 301 also has a counter that counts the number of sheets of recording material S on which images have been formed and output by the image forming apparatus 101. The image controller 301 notifies the prediction unit 305 of the cumulative output number NPAGE of the recording material S on which images have been formed. The cumulative output number NPAGE is set to "0" at the time of production of the image forming apparatus 101. In this embodiment, the cumulative output number NPAGE is the number of sheets converted into A4 size paper. For example, when an image is formed on A3 paper, the cumulative output number NPAGE increases by 2.

[0037] The resupply controller 303 acquires the detection result of the amount of toner in the developing device 114 by the development toner amount detection sensor 131 and the detection result of the amount of toner in the hopper 132 by the hopper toner amount detection sensor 134. The resupply controller 303 determines the operation timing of the resupply screw 133 and the toner bottle 140 based on these detection results. The resupply controller 303 realizes toner resupply by the resupply screw 133 and the toner bottle 140 by rotating the motors for driving the resupply screw 133 and the toner bottle 140 in accordance with the determined operation timing. The resupply controller 303 counts the number of times the toner bottle 140 has been rotated as the “number of toner resupplies”, and transmits the counting result, the “number of toner resupplies”, to the usage amount detection unit 302.

[0038] The operations of the usage detection unit 302, the prediction unit 305, the determination unit 306, and the display controller 310 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

[0039] Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the usage detection unit 302. The usage detection unit 302 executes the process of Fig. 4 periodically (e.g., every second) or irregularly (e.g., every time an image is formed for a print unit such as one image or one page).

[0040] Usage detection unit 302 acquires remaining toner amount WT-1 of toner bottle 140, which is stored in memory 304 (S100). Remaining toner amount WT-1 is the remaining toner amount detected by the process performed by usage detection unit 302 the previous time (time "T-1" where the current time is "T") and stored in memory 304. When toner bottle 140 is newly installed and usage detection unit 302 performs the process of Fig. 4 for the first time, remaining toner amount WT-1 is the amount of toner filled in toner bottle 140 when it was produced, which is the initial value.

[0041] Usage detection unit 302 acquires image pixel information P from image controller 301, and acquires toner replenishment count N from replenishment controller 303 (S101). Image pixel information P indicates the cumulative number of pixels for which image formation and output have been performed up to now. Toner replenishment count N indicates the cumulative number of times toner bottle 140 has been rotated up to now.

[0042] The usage detection unit 302 calculates ΔP, which is the result of subtracting the number of pixels represented by the image pixel information PT-1 obtained during the previous processing from the number of pixels represented by the image pixel information P. The usage detection unit 302 also calculates ΔN, which is the result of subtracting the number of toner replenishments NT-1 obtained during the previous processing from the number of toner replenishments N (S102).

[0043] The usage amount detection unit 302 calculates an estimate of the toner usage amount (estimated usage amount Q) estimated to be used at the current time T based on the calculated ΔP, ΔN, the representative value of the toner usage amount per pixel, and the representative value of the toner usage amount per toner replenishment count (S103). The estimated usage amount Q is calculated, for example, by the following formula. The unit of the estimated usage amount Q is milligrams. Q = (0.015 × ΔP + 180 × ΔN) / 2

[0044] In this formula, the representative value of the toner usage per pixel is 0.015 [mg], and the representative value of the toner usage per toner replenishment is 180 [mg]. This formula is a calculation formula for calculating the estimated toner usage Q estimated to be used at the current time T, by using the average of the estimated toner usage based on the output image and the estimated toner usage based on the amount of toner supplied from toner bottle 140.

[0045] The usage detection unit 302 calculates the cumulative amount of toner used (cumulative toner usage) (S104). The usage detection unit 302 adds the estimated usage Q calculated this time to the cumulative toner usage UT-1 calculated in the previous process (time (T-1)) to calculate the cumulative toner usage UT at the current time T. That is, the usage detection unit 302 performs the calculation UT=UT-1+Q. Note that T=1, 2, ..., U0=0.

[0046] Usage detection unit 302 subtracts estimated usage Q from remaining toner amount WT-1 obtained from memory 304 in the process of S100, and calculates the result (WT-1-Q) as remaining toner amount WT at current time T (S105). Usage detection unit 302 updates remaining toner amount WT-1 stored in memory 304 to the calculated remaining toner amount WT (S106).

[0047] The usage amount detection unit 302 obtains the current date from a timer or the like included in the controller 300, and judges whether the current date is the day after the date of the previous process or later (S107). If the current date is not the day after the date of the previous process or later (S107: N), the usage amount detection unit 302 ends the process. If the current date is the day after the date of the previous process or later (S107: Y), the usage amount detection unit 302 notifies the prediction unit 305 of the cumulative toner usage amount UT as the "toner usage amount used in the day including the current time T" (toner usage amount per day). In addition, the usage amount detection unit 302 notifies the prediction unit 305 of the remaining toner amount WT (S108). After the notification, the usage amount detection unit 302 initializes the cumulative toner usage amount UT to 0 (S109). In other words, the usage amount detection unit 302 notifies the prediction unit 305 of the toner usage amount per day once a day. This completes the processing of the usage amount detection unit 302.

[0048] 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the prediction unit 305. The prediction unit 305 executes the process of FIG.

[0049] The prediction unit 305 compares the cumulative output number NPAGE acquired from the image controller 301 with a predetermined number threshold (S501). In this embodiment, the number threshold is 500. If the cumulative output number NPAGE is smaller than the number threshold (S501: N), the prediction unit 305 determines that the calculation conditions are not satisfied and ends the process. If the cumulative number NPAGE is equal to or greater than the number threshold (S501: Y), the prediction unit 305 acquires the cumulative toner usage UT from the usage detection unit 302 (S502). Using the acquired cumulative toner usage UT, the prediction unit 305 calculates the average value UAVE of the cumulative toner usage UT (the cumulative average of toner usage per day) according to the following formula (S503).

[0050]

number

[0051] "i" is the number of times that the "toner usage per day" has been obtained from the usage detection unit 302. "Un" represents the toner usage per day at the time of the nth notification. In other words, the number of times of acquisition i corresponds to the number of days for which the user's past usage history has been obtained. Note that while the average value UAVE of the cumulative toner usage has never been calculated using the "toner usage per day", the average value UAVE = 0.

[0052] The prediction unit 305 calculates the remaining number of days D as the remaining usable period of the toner currently remaining in the image forming apparatus 101 based on the average value UAVE of the cumulative toner usage and the remaining toner amount WT acquired from the usage amount detection unit 302 (S504). The remaining number of days D is calculated by the formula D=WT / UAVE. Note that when the average value UAVE=0, the remaining number of days D is set to a sufficiently large value, for example, 9999 days. The prediction unit 305 notifies the determination unit 306 of the calculated remaining number of days D and the number of occurrences i (S505). This ends the processing of the prediction unit 305.

[0053] 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the determination unit 306. The determination unit 306 acquires the acquisition count i output from the prediction unit 305 (S1001). The determination unit 306 judges whether the acquired acquisition count i is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold number of days (e.g., 14 days or more) (S1002). If the acquisition count i is smaller than the threshold number of days (S1002: N), the determination unit 306 ends the process.

[0054] If the acquisition count i is equal to or greater than the day threshold (S1002: Y), the determination unit 306 acquires the remaining days D output from the prediction unit 305 (S1003). The determination unit 306 judges whether the acquired remaining days D is equal to or greater than a predetermined delivery threshold (for example, 10 days or more) (S1004). If the remaining days D is equal to or greater than the delivery threshold (S1004: N), the determination unit 306 ends the process. If the remaining days D is smaller than the delivery threshold (S1004: Y), the determination unit 306 judges that the toner bottle 140 will soon be used up and empty. In this case, the determination unit 306 generates a delivery request signal to prompt a "delivery request", which is an example of a request to prepare a replacement toner bottle. The determination unit 306 transmits the generated delivery request signal to the display controller 310, and also transmits it to the external maintenance server 307 via the communication unit 308 (S1005). Note that display controller 310 does not display the number of remaining days on the display of operation panel 171 until a predetermined number of days have passed since image forming apparatus 101 was installed.

[0055] Display controller 310 controls the display of the display of operation panel 171. Display controller 310 causes the display to display a screen corresponding to the delivery request signal acquired from determination unit 306. FIG. 7 is an example of a screen corresponding to the delivery request signal displayed on operation panel 171. Display screen 600 of operation panel 171 displays a list of remaining days D and whether delivery of a toner bottle is required or not required for each of the toners (toner Y, toner M, toner C, toner K) owned by image forming apparatus 101. "Needed / not needed toner delivery" is "required" for a toner bottle for which display controller 310 has received a delivery request signal, and "not needed" for a toner bottle for which a delivery request signal has not been received.

[0056] Maintenance server 307 displays an image on a predetermined display in response to a delivery request signal acquired from determination unit 306 via communication unit 308. The displayed content is, for example, similar to the screen shown in FIG. 7, and includes "Whether toner delivery is necessary / not necessary" for each toner. By maintenance server 307 displaying such a screen, an operator of maintenance server 307 can check the displayed content and confirm the necessity of arranging delivery for replacement of toner bottles or for keeping them on hand (including the number of toner bottles to be delivered). This makes it possible to deliver replacement toner bottles to the installation location of image forming apparatus 101 at an appropriate time.

[0057] In the above description, the image forming apparatus 101 sets the result of the comparison between the cumulative output number NPAGE and a predetermined number threshold by the prediction unit 305 as the first calculation stop condition (processing of S501 in FIG. 5). Also, the image forming apparatus 101 sets the result of the comparison between the acquisition count i and a number-of-days threshold by the determination unit 306 as the second calculation stop condition (processing of S1002 in FIG. 6).

[0058] The first calculation stop condition is a condition for not using the user's usage history for future demand prediction during the period from when the image forming apparatus 101 is installed until a predetermined number of sheets of recording material S on which images have been formed are output. If the first calculation stop condition is satisfied (S501:N), the prediction unit 305 does not perform processing. Therefore, even if an unusual amount of image formation is performed in the initial period after the image forming apparatus 101 is installed, it is possible to suppress errors that the state at that time causes in future demand prediction.

[0059] The second calculation stop condition is a condition for not updating the number of remaining days and not generating a delivery request signal until a predetermined amount of data is acquired after starting to acquire data of the user's usage history. If the second calculation stop condition is satisfied (S1002:N), the determination unit 306 does not perform processing. Due to the second calculation stop condition, even if a newly acquired piece of usage history data contains a large amount of error compared to long-term future demand, the image forming apparatus 101 can suppress the influence of the error on the determination of the delivery request signal.

[0060] (Modification) In the modified example, the case where the consumable is toner (toner bottle) will also be described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of a controller for managing delivery of consumables used by image forming apparatus 101 during image formation. This controller 400 has the same configuration as controller 300 in FIG. 3, but the operation of prediction unit 312 differs from prediction unit 305 of controller 300 in FIG. 3. A reset operation panel 311 is connected to prediction unit 312. In addition, prediction unit 312 obtains image pixel information from image controller 301. The other configurations and operations are as described above.

[0061] The reset operation panel 311, when operated by a user, transmits a reset signal to the prediction unit 312. The reset operation panel 311 may be configured integrally with the operation panel 171, or may be provided separately.

[0062] 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the prediction unit 312. The prediction unit 312 executes the process of FIG.

[0063] The prediction unit 312 determines whether or not a reset signal has been received from the reset operation panel 311 (S601). If a reset signal has been received (S601: Y), the prediction unit 312 resets the cumulative pixel R, which is the cumulative value of the image pixel information P, to 0 (S602). The initial value of the cumulative pixel R is set to 0 at the time when the image forming apparatus 101 is manufactured. The prediction unit 312 resets the average value UAVE of the cumulative toner usage and the number of acquisitions i to 0 (S603). That is, the prediction unit 312 treats the cumulative toner usage UT that is subsequently acquired for the first time from the usage detection unit 302 as the data acquired the first time (i=1).

[0064] When the reset signal is not received (S601: N), or after resetting the cumulative pixel R, the average value UAVE, and the number of acquisitions i, the prediction unit 312 acquires image pixel information P from the image controller 301 (S604). The prediction unit 312 calculates an increment ΔP of the image pixel information P from the previous processing time (S605), and updates the cumulative pixel R by adding the increment ΔP to the cumulative pixel R at the end of the previous processing (S606). The prediction unit 312 determines whether the updated cumulative pixel P is equal to or greater than a predetermined pixel threshold (S607). If the cumulative pixel P is not equal to or greater than the pixel threshold (S606: N), the prediction unit 312 ends the process. If the cumulative pixel P is equal to or greater than the pixel threshold (S606: Y), the prediction unit 312 executes the processes of S608 to S611. The processes of S608 to S611 are the same as the processes of S502 to S505 in FIG. 5, and therefore will not be described.

[0065] The reset operation panel 311 is operated, for example, when the installation location of the image forming apparatus 101 is moved and a change in long-term future demand is expected. When a reset signal is input to the controller 400, the usage history up to that point is reset, so that the controller 400 can predict future demand after the installation location is moved regardless of the usage history.

[0066] The various numerical values ​​used in the above description are merely examples and are not limited to the above numerical values. In the above description, the usage amount detection unit 302 estimates the toner usage amount Q from the image pixel information P and the number of toner replenishments N, but the detection of the toner usage amount may be performed by other methods. For example, the usage amount detection unit 302 may estimate the toner usage amount Q from the detection result of a sensor that detects the volume and weight of the toner contained in the toner bottle 140. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus 101, and can be applied to any device that operates using consumables.

[0067] In this way, image forming apparatus 101 does not perform processing for outputting a consumable delivery request signal while at least one of the first and second calculation stop conditions is satisfied. In other words, image forming apparatus 101 does not make a consumable delivery request while a predetermined condition is satisfied from the start of use. Therefore, a delivery request for spare consumables is made at an appropriate timing.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus having a detachable toner container that contains toner, and that forms an image on a sheet using the toner in the toner container, an acquisition unit for acquiring consumption data relating to the amount of toner consumed when the image forming apparatus forms an image; a determining unit that determines the number of days remaining until a toner container mounted on the image forming apparatus is expected to be replaced based on the consumption data acquired by the acquiring unit; a display means for displaying the remaining number of days determined by the determination means, The display means displays a predetermined number of days as the remaining number of days if a display condition is not satisfied, regardless of the remaining number of days determined by the determination means. Image forming device.

2. The display condition includes a condition of the number of sheets on which the image forming apparatus has formed an image.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The display condition includes a condition regarding the number of sheets on which the image forming device has formed an image, and a condition regarding the number of days that have passed since the condition was satisfied.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The toner container delivery method further comprises an output unit that outputs a delivery request for a toner container based on the remaining days determined by the determination unit.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.

5. 1. A toner container mounted on an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet using toner, comprising: a display method for displaying the number of days remaining until a date when the toner container is expected to be replaced, the toner container containing toner to be replenished to the image forming apparatus, the display method comprising: acquiring consumption data relating to the amount of toner consumed when the image forming apparatus forms an image; a determination step of determining the remaining number of days based on the consumption data acquired in the acquisition step; a first display step of displaying a predetermined number of days as the remaining number of days if a display condition is not satisfied regardless of the remaining number of days determined in the determination step; a second display step of displaying the remaining number of days determined in the determination step when the display condition is satisfied.

6. 6. The display method according to claim 5, wherein the display conditions include a condition regarding the number of sheets on which the image forming apparatus has formed an image.

7. 6. The display method according to claim 5, wherein the display conditions include a condition regarding the number of sheets on which the image forming apparatus has formed an image, and a condition regarding the number of days that have passed since the condition was satisfied.

8. 6. The display method according to claim 5, further comprising an output step of outputting a delivery request for a toner container based on the remaining number of days determined in the determination step.

9. An information processing device that controls an image forming device that forms an image on a sheet using a toner in a detachable toner container, the information processing device comprising: an acquisition unit for acquiring consumption data relating to the amount of toner consumed when the image forming apparatus forms an image; a determining unit that determines the number of days remaining until a toner container mounted on the image forming apparatus is expected to be replaced based on the consumption data acquired by the acquiring unit; a display means for displaying the remaining number of days determined by the determination means, The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein said display means displays a predetermined number of days as the remaining number of days if a display condition is not satisfied, regardless of the remaining number of days determined by said determination means.

10. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the display conditions include a condition regarding the number of sheets on which the image forming apparatus has formed an image.

11. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the display conditions include a condition regarding the number of sheets on which the image forming apparatus has formed an image, and a condition regarding the number of days that have passed since the condition was satisfied.

12. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an output unit that outputs a delivery request for a toner container based on the number of remaining days determined by the determination unit.

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