Toner Cartridge Display Control via Memory Flag

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses cannot determine or control the display of toner remaining in cartridges on a cartridge-by-cartridge basis, leading to unnecessary replacement of consumable cartridges.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with a controller that uses flags stored in the consumable product memory to decide whether to display toner level information, allowing for customizable display settings based on threshold values and supply contract status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the image forming apparatus automatically orders consumable cartridges when toner level reaches threshold, then consumable material is ensured to be available, but users cannot control whether to display remaining toner information leading to potential premature replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsumable material availabilityVSAvoiddisplay control flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the display control function by introducing a flag stored in the consumable product memory that independently controls whether remaining toner information is displayed. This allows the display function to be separated from the automatic ordering function, enabling different display behaviors for different cartridges while maintaining the overall automatic ordering system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the display behavior dynamic by allowing the flag to be set or cleared based on supply contract status. When a supply contract exists, the flag is set to hide remaining toner information; when no contract exists, the flag is cleared to display the information. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between ensuring availability and providing user control flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If remaining toner information is always displayed, then users have full information about consumable status, but users may prematurely replace cartridges that still have sufficient toner

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsumable status visibilityVSAvoidconsumable material waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different display behaviors for different consumable cartridges based on individual flag settings. Each cartridge can have its own display characteristic (showing or hiding remaining toner information) depending on its specific supply contract status, rather than applying a uniform display policy to all cartridges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the supply contract status to control the display behavior. The controller checks whether a supply contract exists and accordingly sets or clears the flag in the consumable product memory, creating a feedback loop that adjusts information display based on the business relationship status, thereby preventing premature replacement while maintaining sufficient information visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the apparatus provides automatic consumable ordering, then user convenience is improved, but the system cannot adapt display behavior to different supply contract scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated consumable managementVSAvoiddisplay behavior adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the consumable product memory universal by using it to store both supply contract information and display control flags. This multi-functional use of the memory allows the system to handle both the automatic ordering function and the adaptive display control function within the same component, improving versatility without adding complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11340548B2Image forming apparatus capable of selecting either display or not display remaining amount of toner

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a display, a consumable cartridge and a controller. The consumable cartridge is attached to the apparatus body. The consumable cartridge includes a housing and a consumable product memory. The housing accommodates consumable material therein for use in image formation. The consumable product memory stores a first flag. The first flag indicates whether consumable material information indicating that an amount of the consumable material is reduced to a level equal to or less than a first threshold value is displayed or not displayed on the display. The controller is configured to execute a first display process for determining whether the consumable material information is displayed on the display in accordance with indication of the first flag stored in the consumable product memory.