Image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and computer-readable medium
US8534662B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 2012 |
| Grant date | Sep 17, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2801/06
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An image forming apparatus which includes a plurality of feeding units each formed by an exchangeable part, and selects one of the plurality of feeding units based on priority levels of the plurality of feeding units in a feed operation, comprises: a monitoring unit which monitors a consumed level of the part forming the feeding unit; a notification unit which sends a notification to a user in a case where the monitoring unit detects that a life-time of the part has been reached; an ordering unit which orders the part before the monitoring unit detects that the life-time of the part has been reached; and a changing unit which changes the priority level of the feeding unit formed by the part being ordered to be lower than the priority levels of other feeding units.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.