IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING PROCESS CARTRIDGE, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20170235268A1
• Filed: 02/13/2017
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Shinagawa, Kazutaka
• Granted Patent: US 10,120,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/553 Monitoring or warning means for exhaustion or lifetime end of consumables, e.g. indication of insufficient copy sheet quantity for a job
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1889 for auto-setting of process parameters, lifetime, usage

Abstract

An image forming apparatus which is capable of prompting a user to replace a process cartridge. The process cartridge is comprised of a plurality of components. At least CPU executes instructions to obtain life span information indicating life spans of the components of the process cartridge, determine whether or not the process cartridge is a specific process cartridge for which life span information on a part of the components of the process cartridge is obtained whereas life span information on all the components of the cartridge is not obtained, calculate a life span of the process cartridge, and provide notification of the calculated life span of the process cartridge. When the process cartridge is the specific process cartridge, the life span of the process cartridge is calculated based on only the obtained life span information on the components.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus having a cartridge comprised of a plurality of components, comprising:

a memory device that stores a set of instruction; and

at least one processor that executes the instructions to;

obtain life span information indicating life spans of the components of the cartridge;

determine whether the cartridge is a specific cartridge on which life span information on some of the components of the cartridge is obtained whereas life span information on all the components of the cartridge is not obtained;

calculate a life span of the cartridge; and

provide notification of the calculated life span of the cartridge,

wherein, when the cartridge is the specific cartridge, the life span of the cartridge is calculated based on only the obtained life span information on some of the components.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor executes the instructions to provide notification that prompts replacement of the cartridge when the cartridge is the specific cartridge.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge is a process cartridge comprising a photosensitive body, a developing device that develops an image on the photosensitive body, and a toner supply unit that supplies toner to the developing device.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor executes the instructions to display the calculated life span of the cartridge.

5. A control method for an image forming apparatus having a cartridge comprised of a plurality of components, comprising:

an obtaining step of obtaining life span information indicating life spans of the components of the cartridge;

a determination step of determining whether the cartridge is a specific cartridge on which life span information on some of the components of the cartridge is obtained whereas life span information on all the components of the cartridge is not obtained;

a life span calculation step of calculating a life span of the cartridge; and

a notification step of providing notification of the calculated life span of the cartridge,

wherein in said life span calculation step, when the cartridge is the specific cartridge, the life span of the cartridge is calculated based on only the obtained life span information on some of the components.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a control method for an image forming apparatus having a cartridge comprised of a plurality of components, the control method for the image forming apparatus comprising:

an obtaining step of obtaining life span information indicating life spans of the components of the cartridge;

a determination step of determining whether the cartridge is a specific cartridge on which life span information on some of the components of the cartridge is obtained whereas life span information on all the components of the cartridge is not obtained;

a life span calculation step of calculating a life span of the cartridge; and

a notification step of providing notification of the calculated life span of the cartridge,

wherein in the life span calculation step, when the cartridge is the specific cartridge, the life span of the cartridge is calculated based on only the obtained life span information on some of the components.