Consumable Capacity Thresholding for Timely Toner Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic consumable delivery services for image forming apparatuses often fail to deliver consumables at the desired timing due to user-inputted delivery conditions not accounting for the capacity of the consumable being replaced, leading to inconveniences.

Innovation Solution

The image forming apparatus adjusts the delivery threshold based on the capacity information of the new consumable upon attachment, allowing for timely delivery of consumables by calculating a new threshold using the expression Sn=(Cp × Sb)/Cs, where Cp is the capacity of the new consumable, Cs is the previous consumable's capacity, and Sb is the original threshold.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the delivery threshold is set as a percentage relative to the capacity of the consumable, then the delivery condition can be configured flexibly, but the delivery timing becomes inaccurate when consumables with different capacities are replaced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery condition configurationVSAvoiddelivery timing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery threshold is made dynamic by automatically adjusting it based on the capacity of the attached consumable. When a consumable is detected, the system calculates a new threshold value proportional to that consumable's capacity, ensuring accurate delivery timing regardless of whether the consumable is standard or large-capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the threshold parameter dynamically based on the consumable capacity. By calculating the threshold as a percentage of the actual consumable capacity rather than using a fixed value, the system adapts the delivery condition to match the specific consumable being used.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the threshold is adjusted automatically when consumable capacity changes, then delivery timing accuracy is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery timing accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting the consumable capacity and calculating the appropriate threshold without requiring user intervention. The consumable itself provides the capacity information needed for the adjustment, eliminating the need for manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares for future delivery by automatically adjusting the threshold in advance when a consumable is attached. This preliminary adjustment ensures that when the consumable is depleted, the delivery timing will be accurate, eliminating the need for later manual adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the delivery threshold is fixed regardless of consumable capacity, then the system operation is simple, but consumables are not delivered at the desired timing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem operation simplicityVSAvoiddelivery timing reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from the consumable capacity information to adjust the delivery threshold. By continuously monitoring the actual capacity of the attached consumable and using that feedback to recalculate the threshold, the system maintains reliable delivery timing while keeping the user interface simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20260064076A1Image forming apparatus and processing method

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 CANON KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes one or more memories storing instructions, and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to perform a delivery request for a new consumable when a remaining amount of the consumable is less than or equal to a threshold, and in response to detecting attachment of the new consumable, change the threshold to a new threshold based on the threshold, capacity information of the new consumable, and capacity information of a previously attached consumable.