Abstract: A system and method for tracking, controlling, and replenishing consumption of at least one consumable item in a printing system are disclosed. The system includes a first network and a printing device coupled to the first network. A cabinet device coupled to the first network stores and controllably dispenses the at least one consumable item.

Abstract: An image forming system includes at least one toner cartridge, an image forming unit, and a cartridge life determination module. The toner cartridge may include toner and at least one component. The image forming unit may selectively form an image in one of a low coverage mode and a high coverage mode such that a greater amount of the toner is used in the high coverage mode than the low coverage mode in a formation of the respective image. The cartridge life determination module may determine an amount of remaining life of the toner, an amount of remaining life of the at least one component, and an effective amount of remaining life of the at least one toner cartridge based on the amount of remaining life of the toner and the amount of remaining life of the at least one component.

Abstract: A computer readable medium has a consumables-usability determination program product stored thereon. The program product directs a portable terminal to perform as: a model-information inputting section for inputting model information indicating a model of an image forming apparatus; a consumables-information inputting section for inputting consumables information indicating consumables; a first determining section for determining whether the consumables indicated by the consumables information inputted by the consumables-information inputting section is usable to the model indicated by the model information inputted by the model-information inputting section; and a first reporting section for reporting a result determined by the first determining section to the user.

Abstract: A word processing document is repurposed to save paper and ink. An indication is received that a printout of a word processing document from a printer has been requested. Further, the content is segmented into one or more regions according to a set of grouping rules, the set of grouping rules defining a region has having at least one homogeneous characteristic. In addition, one or more potential transformations are filtered for each region to generate one or more filtered potential transformations based on a set of rules that restricts a transformation according to a region type. The region type is determined by the at least one homogeneous characteristic for each region. Further, a cost function is evaluated for each of the one or more filtered potential transformations according to one or more appearance attributes for the word processing document.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes an image formation apparatus body, and a replacement member detachably provided in the image formation apparatus body and configured to be used for image formation. The replacement member includes a first storage to store a life determination value used in life determination of the replacement member. The image formation apparatus body includes a connection section configured to be connected to the first storage of the replacement member, and a controller configured to operate in: a first processing mode of accessing the first storage of the replacement member to acquire the life determination value and managing the life of the replacement member based on the acquired life determination value; and a second processing mode of managing the life of the replacement member such that the quality of image formation using the replacement member is not lower than that obtained through operation in the first processing mode.

Abstract: A control method of an image forming apparatus which is connected to an external apparatus, supports a resource saving mode, and outputs document data is provided. The control method includes: selecting the document data to be output, selecting an output option to be applied to the selected document data, comparing a resource saving value corresponding to the output option to be applied to the document data and a resource saving set value which is pre-set in the image forming apparatus, displaying at least one suggestion option to save resources of the document data according to a result of comparison, and selecting one of the displayed suggestion option and outputting the document data.

Abstract: An image formation device for use with a consumable removably loaded therein, the consumable including a non-volatile consumable memory, the image formation device including: a non-volatile device memory; an abnormality detection unit detecting an abnormality pertaining to the consumable; a detection registration unit registering abnormality detection data into both memories when the abnormality pertains to the consumable and no relevant abnormality data are registered in either memory, the abnormality detection data representing the detected abnormality; a confirmation registration unit registering abnormality confirmation data after the consumable has been exchanged and new abnormality detection data pertaining to a new abnormality detected by the abnormality detection unit are registered in only one of the memories, the abnormality confirmation data replacing the new abnormality detection data in the appropriate memory; and a confirmation notification unit making a notification of abnormality confirmation

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of reducing a time before an image formation operation is started after toner bottle replacement. When a toner sensor detects that toner is out, and further a door sensor detects that there is a possibility that a toner bottle has been replaced, a toner replenishment rate is calculated from the rotational speed of a motor for rotating the toner bottle, and timing in which image formation is to be resumed is determined based on the toner replenishment rate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of counting use of components in the apparatus and managing the counted number of uses as counter information additionally registers in a management table, when it receives an input for newly adding a component whose counter information is to be managed, based on the input, counter information about a different component and setting information indicating that the counter information may be provided external to the image forming apparatus, in association with identification information about the new component, when the identification information about a related different component in the apparatus included in the input is already managed and a count-up condition for the managed different component matches a count-up condition included in the input.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a toner cartridge, a toner-amount detector configured to detect a toner amount in the toner cartridge, a display unit, and an analyzer. The analyzer is configured to make the display unit display a used condition of the image formation apparatus when the image formation apparatus is in a small-amount mode where the toner amount is smaller than a threshold.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which can execute an image stabilization operation and which includes: a determination portion that determines whether or not the image stabilization operation can be executed when a constituent member of the apparatus is replaced or when a consumable item is supplied; and an image stabilization control portion that executes the image stabilization operation when the determination portion determines that the image stabilization operation can he executed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an operation panel has, as a configuration of the operation panel, a display portion including a function to display environmental label information of the image forming apparatus. The environmental label information includes information on a type of greenhouse effect gases (CO2) and a total emission amount of the greenhouse effect gases in a life cycle of the image forming apparatus. On the display portion, there is provided a selective display portion for displaying an environmental label as list display or thumbnail display, as well as selectively displaying detailed information of the environmental label according to the environmental label.

Abstract: A print control apparatus configured to control a plurality of types of printers, the print control apparatus including: a storage part storing a printer type, a function of the printer type, and a correspondence between the printer type and the function of the printer type; an acquisition part, which acquires identification information for identifying at least the printer type from the printer, and the acquisition part acquires the function corresponding to the printer type identified based on the identification information from the storage part, and a display part displaying an operation screen corresponding to the function acquired by the acquisition part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms an image, a plurality of detectors that detect an amount of variation of indicators respectively determining an amount consumed of the consumable supply, a determination section that determines whether or not the amount of variation has reached any one of first lifespan values, an interruption section that interrupts an image forming operation based on the first lifespan values, and an extension setting section that inhibits the interruption of the image forming operation and sets an extension mode of extending a period of execution of the image forming operation, wherein the determination section determines whether or not an amount of variation of one indicator has reached an extended lifespan value when the extension mode is set, and wherein the interruption section interrupts the image forming operation based on extended lifespan value when the extension mode is set.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detachable unit having a memory configured to store information. The image forming apparatus further includes a first acquiring unit, a second acquiring unit, and a control unit. The first acquiring unit acquires first information on a used amount of the memory. The second acquiring unit acquires second information on a used amount of the detachable unit. The control unit controls an interval between accesses to the memory based on the first information on the used amount of the memory and the second information on the used amount of the detachable unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a plurality of components, a display section to display information of the components, a storage section to store replacing person information of the components and a control section to make the information of the components which are displayed in the display section be different according to the replacing person information of the components.

Abstract: A method for providing a page countdown for a replaceable unit of an image forming device according to one embodiment includes calculating a number of pages remaining until the replaceable unit will reach the end of its life. The calculated number of pages remaining until the replaceable unit will reach the end of life is displayed on a display screen. After the calculated number of pages remaining is displayed, the displayed number of pages remaining is decreased by one for each page printed, the number of pages remaining is recalculated and a discrepancy between the displayed number of pages remaining and the recalculated number of pages remaining is tracked. If the discrepancy exceeds a predetermined error threshold, the recalculated number of pages remaining is displayed and the displayed number of pages remaining continues to be decreased by one for each page printed from the displayed recalculated number of pages remaining.

Abstract: A method for providing an indication of when a replaceable unit of an image forming device will require replacement according to one example embodiment includes determining an average usage of the replaceable unit per day. Whether the replaceable unit is near the end of its life is also determined. After determining that the replaceable unit is near the end of its life, a number of days remaining until the replaceable unit will require replacement is displayed on a display screen of at least one of the image forming device and a device in electronic communication with the image forming device based on the determined average usage of the replaceable unit per day.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a fixing part fixing a toner image onto a recording medium by heating it, includes an ambient temperature predicting part predicting an ambient temperature from a fixing temperature rising period of time taken until the fixing part reaches a certain temperature; a member temperature predicting part predicting a member temperature of a member from the predicted ambient temperature and an operating state of the image forming apparatus; a cumulative-used-service-lifetime calculating part calculating a current cumulative used service lifetime from the predicted member temperature, the operating state of the image forming apparatus and an immediately preceding cumulative used service lifetime; a limit-of-usable-period-of-time calculating part calculating a limit of usable period of time by subtracting the calculated current cumulative used service lifetime from a service lifetime of the member; and a reporting part reporting the calculated limit of usable period of time.

Abstract: A method for providing a message on a replaceable printing component of a printing device includes detecting a trigger event, retrieving a message from a memory associated with the replaceable printing component in response to the trigger event, and forming the message on an imaging member of the replaceable printing component, wherein the trigger event includes an end of a print job, and wherein the message remains on the imaging member after completion of the print job.

Abstract: An image forming system includes at least one toner cartridge, an image forming unit, and a cartridge life determination module. The toner cartridge may include toner and at least one component. The image forming unit may selectively form an image in one of a low coverage mode and a high coverage mode such that a greater amount of the toner is used in the high coverage mode than the low coverage mode in a formation of the respective image. The cartridge life determination module may determine an amount of remaining life of the toner, an amount of remaining life of the at least one component, and an effective amount of remaining life of the at least one toner cartridge based on the amount of remaining life of the toner and the amount of remaining life of the at least one component.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an apparatus and method to detect when a consumable such as a toner bottle is replaced before end of life (EOL), throwing out toner that could be used for future printing incurs a cost. In metered accounts, the supplier incurs the cost of this waste. This disclosed process proposes monitoring the approximate rate of toner and then calculating the average amount of consumption per bottle since the last time the bottle was detected as empty. This then determines the toner consumption per bottle yield rate. Yield rate (YR) is calculated based on the estimated amount of toner delivered from a known bottle quantity at the point when the current bottle goes empty. The yield rate is displayed as a gauge on the user interface of the printer.

Abstract: An information storage device installed in a removable device configured to be removably installed in an image forming apparatus body, includes: an information storage unit that stores information communicated between the image forming apparatus body and the removable device; a terminal that comes in contact with a body side terminal; and a substrate that holds the information storage unit and the terminal and includes a hole configured to be engaged with a protruding section installed in the image forming apparatus body. The terminal includes a plurality of terminals each including one of a plurality of metallic plates arranged in a transverse direction thereof. An earth terminal, which comes in contact with a body side earth terminal formed in the protruding section, is formed in the hole. The hole is disposed at a position sandwiched between two metallic plates among the plurality of metallic plates.

Abstract: A system for monitoring consumable supply levels in one or more printers includes a printer server for periodically polling the one or more printers for an indication of a supply level of one or more consumables in each printer. The printer server comprises a polling algorithm that dynamically adjusts a polling rate at which the one or more printers are polled. A method of monitoring consumable supply levels in one or more printers includes periodically polling the one or more printers for an indication of a supply level of one or more consumables in each printer; and automatically adjusting a polling rate at which the one or more printers are polled.

Abstract: A consumables stock subtraction processing unit in a management apparatus calculates a counter value used in the determination of stock subtraction for a consumable product by using the value of a counter included in a residual amount notification acquired from an image formation apparatus. When the difference of the determination counter value calculated upon receipt of a previous residual amount notification and a determination counter value calculated upon receipt of a new residual amount notification is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, stock subtraction processing for the consumable is performed.

Abstract: A lubricant applicator includes a block of lubricant, a supply member contactable against the block of lubricant to scrape the block of lubricant, and a lubricant gauge to detect whether a remaining amount of lubricant is less than a threshold value. The lubricant gauge includes a rotary member rotatable about a pivot, a pressing member disposed opposite the rotary member to rotate the rotary member by pressing a contact part of the rotary member as the block of lubricant is consumed, and a detection part of the rotary member opposite to the contact part across the pivot of the rotary member. A length of the rotary member from the pivot to the detection part is longer than a length of the rotary member from the pivot to the contact part.

Abstract: A lubricant applicator includes a block of lubricant, a supply member contactable against the block of lubricant to scrape the block of lubricant, and a lubricant gauge including a first electrode and a second electrode. The lubricant gauge is electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode to detect whether an amount of lubricant remaining is less than a threshold value based on establishment of electrical continuity between the first electrode and the second electrode. One of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a projection projecting toward the other one of the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A lubricant applicator includes a lubricant, a supply member contactable against the lubricant to supply the lubricant to a target, and a lubricant gauge to detect whether an amount of lubricant remaining is less than a threshold value. The lubricant gauge includes a rotary member rotatable about a shaft, a pressing member to press and rotate the rotary member as the lubricant is consumed, a contact part of the rotary member pressed by the pressing member, and a detection part of the rotary member opposite to the contact part across the shaft of the rotary member.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a management apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a determination unit, a storage unit, a selection unit, and an output unit. The acquisition unit acquires any one of simple data or detailed data including the simple data from a plurality of image processing apparatuses. If the detailed data is acquired, the determination unit determines maintenance data to be applied to the image processing apparatus which is an output source of the detailed data. The storage unit stores the maintenance data in association with related data included in the detailed data. If the acquisition unit acquires the simple data, the selection unit selects the maintenance data associated with the related data similar to the acquired simple data. The output unit outputs the maintenance data as the data for update with respect to the image processing apparatus which is an output source of the simple data.

Abstract: A printing system includes an instruction unit for instructing, in response to determination of using a reuse consumable in the case of replacement of a consumable of an image forming apparatus, a setting to be changed according to the replacement with the reuse consumable, wherein the setting instructed by the instruction unit is performed in the image forming apparatus after the replacement with the reuse consumable.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a calculation unit configured to calculate, based on attribute information of a print job, a supply time point at which supply of consumables becomes necessary due to execution of the print job; and a notification unit configured to notify a user of necessity of the supply of the consumables at a time point obtained by subtracting a transit time it takes for the user to move to the image forming device and a supply time necessary for supplying the consumables from the supply time point.

Abstract: In a method or system for automatic controlling of jobs to be processed, the jobs to be associated with input and output material bundles, the jobs to be processed are collected into multiple groups or clusters. The groups or clusters are automatically sorted according to rules. The input material bundles are fed to a processing device at a central station, at least one post-processing apparatus being connected to and down stream from the processing device.

Abstract: A management server receives a notification from an image forming apparatus as to an operation mode of the image forming apparatus in response to an operation performed by a service person. The management server detects a status change in the image forming apparatus from the received notification. The management server then produces a replacement part list in accordance with management information stored in the management server and in accordance with the notified operation mode of the image forming apparatus and the detected status change. The management server transmits the produced replacement part list to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A fixation unit includes a fixation member and a housing containing therein the fixation member. The fixation member is configured to thermally fix a developer image onto a medium being conveyed from an image formation unit to the fixation unit along a medium conveyance path, wherein the developer image is formed at the image formation unit and transferred onto the medium by the image formation unit. The developer attachment member is replaceably provided to the fixation unit and configured to attach thereto a part of the developer that is scattered in the neighborhood of the conveyance path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image on the image carrier; a transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the image carrier to a transfer target having ridges and valleys on a surface thereof; an adjusting unit that adjusts a ratio of A/B, where A is a transfer ratio [%] from the image carrier to a valley portion of the transfer target while B is a transfer ratio [%] from the image carrier to a ridge portion of the transfer target, based on an adjustment input by a user; and a control unit that controls a transfer condition of the transfer unit based on the ratio of A/B adjusted by the adjusting unit.

Abstract: An apparatus that uses plural kinds of consumable items different from each other, the apparatus including a consumption status detecting device to detect a respective consumption status for each of the plural kinds of the consumable items, a memory to store a plurality of settings for each of the plural kinds of the consumable items, each of the settings including presence or non-presence of information output, and an output device to output the consumption status detected by the consumption status detecting unit, according to the setting of the presence or the non-presence of information output stored in the memory.

Abstract: A consumables storage container has an opening through which consumables are supplied. The consumables storage container includes a seal detachably attached to the opening to seal the opening, a part ID storage disposed on the seal, and a positioning holder to position and hold the seal at a prescribed position where the part ID storage is readable after the opening is unsealed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a wireless tag reader is described. The wireless tag reader is configured to be located in a first position to read wireless tags associated with consumables when the consumables are inserted into, stationary in, or removed from the image forming apparatus, and in a second position to read wireless tags outside of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: In a multi-printer system with two marking engines, the jobs printed are monitored and the remaining lives of consumables in replaceable units (RUs) in the engines are estimated. A decision unit responsive to the estimated lives of the consumables determines that the first RU in the first marking engine should be moved to the second marking engine at a selected service time, so that a remaining amount of the consumable in the first RU is not discarded.

Abstract: An information storage device installed in a removable device configured to be removably installed in an image forming apparatus body, includes: an information storage unit that stores information communicated between the image forming apparatus body and the removable device; a terminal that comes in contact with a body side terminal; and a substrate that holds the information storage unit and the terminal and includes a hole configured to be engaged with a protruding section installed in the image forming apparatus body. The terminal includes a plurality of terminals each including one of a plurality of metallic plates arranged in a transverse direction thereof. An earth terminal, which comes in contact with a body side earth terminal formed in the protruding section, is formed in the hole. The hole is disposed at a position sandwiched between two metallic plates among the plurality of metallic plates.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body storage part, a determination part, and an initial adjustment part. The first image forming unit includes a first storage part storing first information indicative of whether or not an initial adjustment of the first image forming unit has been completed. The determination part determines whether or not the first information stored in the first storage part and the second information stored in the main body storage part satisfy respective prescribed conditions. The initial adjustment part causes the first and second image forming units to perform the initial adjustment when the first information indicates that the initial adjustment of the first image forming unit has not been completed and the second information indicates that the second image forming unit corresponds to an unused state.

Abstract: The invention provides a printing consumables chip. The printing consumables chip comprises a base plate which is provided with a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and an electronic module which connects with the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact. The electronic module comprises a microcontroller, a power circuit, a modulation circuit, and a clock circuit which provides a clock signal to the microcontroller. The modulation circuit comprises a switch device. A control terminal of the switch device is connected with a first pin of the microcontroller and two output terminals of the switch device are connected with the first electrical contact and the ground, respectively. The clock circuit comprises a comparison unit. A first input terminal of the comparison unit is connected with an external clock signal and a second input terminal of the comparison unit is connected with a reference voltage.

Abstract: A lubricant supplying device includes: lubricant; a supplying member; a housing case; a pushing mechanism that includes a pair of swing members supported swingably in the housing case and a biasing unit urging the pair of swing members to swing; and a remaining amount detecting unit that detects that a remaining amount of the lubricant is equal to or smaller than a predetermined amount. The remaining amount detecting unit includes: first detection members provided at respective positions different from respective sliding areas of the member on which the swing members slide, on which sliding areas the respective swing members slide, and second detection members attached to the respective swing members such that the second detection members abut or face the respective first detection members when swing postures of the respective swing members reach respective swing postures corresponding to that the remaining amount of the lubricant is the predetermined amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus detects the presence or absence of a toner seal and whether a cartridge is loaded on a main body of the image forming apparatus without use of an additional redundant detection means, due to the provision of an electrically-conductive layer at the toner seal for sealing and closing an opening in a process cartridge including a developer container.

Abstract: A printing device includes at least one printing engine that has many sensors (first sensors and second sensors) and at least one engine controller operatively connected to the printing engine. The engine controller uses software to control operations of the printing engine. Also, at least one non-volatile memory is operatively connected to the engine controller. The non-volatile memory stores values used by the engine controller to control operations of the printing engine. At least one adapter card is operatively connected to the non-volatile memory and to the first sensors and second sensors. The first sensors correspond to the design of the controller and are items designed as original equipment of the printing device. To the contrary, the second sensors correspond to the design of the adapter card and are items designed to be installed in the printing device after the printing device is in post production, customer service.

Abstract: In an embodiment, provided is a lubricant supplying device that includes: a solid lubricant; a supplying member that supplies lubricant of the solid lubricant to a lubricant supplying target; and a remaining amount detecting unit that detects an amount of the solid lubricant being at a given amount or less. The remaining amount detecting unit is provided on a downstream side in a rubbing direction of the supplying member with respect to the solid lubricant.

Abstract: In the present invention, a lubricant supplying device includes a lubricant end determining unit that determines that a solid lubricant is in an end state when the amount of a lubricant supplying operation reaches a threshold after a residual amount detecting unit detects that the residual amount of the solid lubricant is equal to or smaller than a predetermined amount. The lubricant end determining unit makes a threshold of the amount of the lubricant supplying operation at temperature or humidity of equal to or lower than a predetermined value lower than a threshold of the amount of the lubricant supplying operation at temperature or humidity of higher than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A lubricant supplying device used with a solid lubricant, includes a supplying member to supply lubricant taken from the solid lubricant to an object to be supplied with the lubricant, and a remaining amount detecting section to detect a remaining amount of the solid lubricant becoming below a predetermined value. A detection of the remaining amount of the solid lubricant is executed when an operation to supply the lubricant to the object to be supplied with the lubricant stops.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated determination of expiration of an image production device that is currently in use by a customer is disclosed. The method may include retrieving values related to a currently used image production device, determining an existing life value based on the retrieved values, retrieving values related to a replacement image production device, determining a replacement value based on the retrieved values comparing the determined existing life value to the determined replacement value, determining whether the currently used image production device should be replaced based on the comparison, and sending a notification that the currently used image production device should be replaced if it is determined that the currently used image production device should be replaced.

Abstract: A lubricant supplying device includes: lubricant; a supplying member that supplies the lubricant to a lubricant supply target; and a remaining amount detecting unit that detects that a remaining amount of the lubricant is equal to or smaller than a certain amount. The remaining amount detecting unit includes a first electrode member and a second electrode member. The lubricant supplying device further comprises a member that causes at least a part of the second electrode member to move and causes the second electrode member to abut the first electrode member with an increase in consumption of the lubricant.