Abstract: Operator Replaceable Component (ORC) devices are employed; that enable an operator that is not a skilled field engineer or service technician, to perform maintenance on a digital printer, resulting in significantly higher uptime for the press. The ORC devices have an expected life span and the system can track the remaining life for each of the ORC devices and prompts the operator when they should be replaced. Preferably, the recent use of the digital printer is compared against the remaining life of the ORC device with the shortest remaining life. The recent use of the digital printer is used to decrement the remaining life of the ORC devices until an ORC device needs replacement. The operator is then notified of the need to replace the ORC device that has expired.

Abstract: Determining the operational life of Operator Replaceable Component (ORC) devices within a printer. A replacement history of the ORC device is used to predict the future life of a newly installed ORC device. The database management system of the invention provides tracking of the remaining lifetime of the ORC devices. As the system keeps track of the remaining life of the ORC devices, the system will prompt the operator when the ORC devices need to be replaced. Once replaced, the ORC device database is updated with the life span data of the ORC device that was replaced.

Abstract: An inventory management system and method that allows an operator to manage an inventory for a system that has at least one piece of serviceable equipment with a plurality of replaceable components, wherein each of the replaceable components has an expected lifetime based on a predetermined criteria which the inventory management system observes via an inventory tracking system that uses parameters of expected use and predicted remaining life of the replaceable components to determine and manage the inventory.

Abstract: An inventory management system and method that allows an operator to manage an inventory for a system that has at least one piece of serviceable equipment with a plurality of replaceable components, wherein each of the replaceable components has an expected lifetime based on a predetermined criteria which the an inventory management system observes via an inventory tracking system that uses parameters of expected use and predicted remaining life of the replaceable components to determine to manage the inventory.

Abstract: The present invention uses a concept of Operator Replaceable Component (ORC) devices that allows an operator that is not a skilled field engineer or service technician, to perform maintenance on a digital printer, resulting in significantly higher uptime for the press. The ORC devices employed by the present invention have an expected life span and the system can track the remaining life for each of the ORC devices and prompts the operator when they should be replaced. Preferably, the recent use of the digital printer is compared against the remaining life of the ORC device with the shortest remaining life. The recent use of the digital printer is used to decrement the remaining life of the ORC devices until an ORC device needs replacement. The operator is then notified of the need to replace the ORC device that has expired.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the shortcomings in the prior art by providing a method, apparatus, and computer program for determining the operational life of Operator Replaceable Component (ORC) devices within a printer. The invention involves using a replacement history of the ORC device to predict the future life of a newly installed ORC device. The system of the invention provides tracking of the remaining lifetime of the ORC devices. As the system keeps track of the remaining life of the ORC devices, the system will prompt the operator when the ORC devices need to be replaced. Once replaced, the ORC device database is updated with the life span data of the ORC device that was replaced.