Image forming apparatus
US6914696B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 5, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 19, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/553
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In a image forming apparatus, a lifespan copy number (lifespan time period) previously determined for each component is added to the replacement schedule copy number (replacement schedule time) of respective components contained in the apparatus, in other words the total print number (total print time) at the time of replacement of a component, and the resulting value is recorded in a non-volatile memory. Therefore, it is judged that a component lifespan has expired, each time that the total print number (total print time) exceeds the replacement schedule copy number (replacement schedule time period). Thereby, since the amount of information required for component lifespan management is small, the capacity of the non-volatile memory can be reduced, and hence cost reductions in the image forming apparatus can be achieved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.