Image-Forming Consumable Memory Switching for Refill Write Limits
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face the issue of consumable memories reaching their write operation limit when consumables are refilled with printing material, leading to the inability to write information effectively.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus employs a consumable memory with a first and second storage area, determining which area to write usage amounts based on recycling history information, thereby preventing the write limit from being exceeded during refilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the consumable memory is used to store usage amount information during refilling, then the write operations increase and reach the upper limit, but the memory quality and information storage capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The consumable memory is divided into multiple storage areas (first storage area and second storage area). The controller selectively writes usage amount information to different storage areas based on the refilling history, thereby distributing write operations and preventing any single area from reaching its write limit, which maintains memory quality and reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the same storage area is used for writing usage amount information repeatedly, then the write operations accumulate and reach the upper limit, but the ability to store information effectively is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically switches between the first storage area and the second storage area based on the refilling history. By making the storage target flexible rather than fixed, the system distributes write operations over time and prevents any single storage area from reaching its write limit, thereby maintaining effective information storage capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a device main body, a consumable, and a controller. The consumable is attachable to the device main body. The consumable includes a consumable memory for storing therein recycling history information indicating a recycling history of the consumable. The consumable memory includes a first storage area to which a usage amount of the consumable can be written and a second storage area to which the usage amount of the consumable can be written. The controller is configured to perform a determining process to determine, based on the recycling history information, one of the first storage area and the second storage area as a storage area to which the usage amount is to be written.