Image forming apparatus, control method for image forming apparatus, control program for image forming apparatus, and image forming system

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that can detect a surface state of an image carrier, correctly determine the necessity of replacement and maintenance of the image carrier, and predict the remaining life of the image carrier.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus of the present disclosure comprises: an image carrier that carries a toner image; a detection unit that detects a surface state of the image carrier; a counting unit that counts a printing amount that is the amount of the toner images on the image carrier printed on a medium; and a prediction unit that predicts the remaining life of the image carrier based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier between first and second periods detected by the detection unit, and the amount of printing executed between the first and second periods counted by the counting unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Claims

1. An image carrier that holds the toner image, A detection unit for detecting the surface state of the image carrier, A counting unit that counts the amount of print made by printing the toner image of the image carrier onto the medium, The system includes a prediction unit that predicts the lifespan of the image carrier based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier during the first and second periods detected by the detection unit and the amount of printing performed during the first and second periods counted by the counting unit. A value that represents the lifespan of the image carrier is set as the replacement threshold, based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier. A starting threshold is set for initiating the estimation of the number of prints until the exchange threshold is reached, based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier. The image forming apparatus includes a prediction unit that estimates the number of prints until the exchange threshold is reached based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier, the amount of printing counted by the count unit until the start threshold is reached, and the exchange threshold, and displays the estimated number of prints as a warning.

2. The prediction unit is The amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier is measured at predetermined intervals. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, which estimates the number of prints until the exchange threshold is reached based on the average value of the change in the surface state of the image carrier until the start threshold is reached, and displays the estimated number of prints as a warning.

3. The prediction unit is The amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier is measured at predetermined intervals. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, which estimates the number of prints until the exchange threshold is reached based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier measured in the most recent interval when the starting threshold is reached and the amount of print counted by the counting unit, and displays the estimated number of prints as a warning.

4. The prediction unit, The amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier is measured at predetermined intervals. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, which estimates the number of prints until the exchange threshold is reached based on the maximum amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier measured in each predetermined interval when the starting threshold is reached and the amount of print counted by the counting unit, and displays the estimated number of prints as a warning.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prediction unit presents prediction results for the lifetime of the image carrier in multiple patterns based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier in the first and second periods detected by the detection unit and the amount of printing performed between the first and second periods counted by the counting unit.

6. A step of detecting the surface state of an image carrier that holds a toner image, The steps include counting the amount of printing done by printing the toner image of the image carrier onto the medium, A step of predicting the lifetime of the image carrier based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier during the detected first and second periods and the amount of printing performed during the counted first and second periods, The steps include setting a replacement threshold value as the lifespan of the image carrier based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier, The method includes the step of setting a starting threshold for starting the estimation of the number of prints until the replacement threshold is reached, based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier. A control method for an image forming apparatus, wherein the predicting step includes estimating the number of prints until the replacement threshold is reached based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier, the counted print amount until the start threshold is reached, and the replacement threshold, and displaying the estimated number of prints as a warning.

7. A control program for an image forming apparatus to be executed by a computer, The aforementioned computer, A step of detecting the surface state of the image carrier that holds the toner image, The steps include counting the amount of printing done by printing the toner image of the image carrier onto the medium, A step of predicting the lifetime of the image carrier based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier during the detected first and second periods and the amount of printing performed during the counted first and second periods, The steps include setting a replacement threshold value as the lifespan of the image carrier based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier, The method includes the step of setting a starting threshold for starting the estimation of the number of prints until the replacement threshold is reached, based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier. The control program for an image forming apparatus includes the steps of: predicting, estimating the number of prints until the replacement threshold is reached based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier, the counted print amount until the start threshold is reached, and the replacement threshold; and displaying the estimated number of prints as a warning.

8. An image carrier that holds a toner image, A detection unit for detecting the surface state of the image carrier, A counting unit that counts the amount of print made by printing the toner image of the image carrier onto the medium, The system includes a prediction unit that predicts the lifespan of the image carrier based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier during the first and second periods detected by the detection unit and the amount of printing performed during the first and second periods counted by the counting unit. A value that represents the lifespan of the image carrier is set as the replacement threshold, based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier. A starting threshold is set for initiating the estimation of the number of prints until the exchange threshold is reached, based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier. The prediction unit estimates the number of prints until the exchange threshold is reached, based on the amount of change in the surface state of the image carrier, the amount of prints counted by the counting unit until the start threshold is reached, and the exchange threshold, and displays the estimated number of prints as a warning in the image forming system.

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