Techniques for generating status messages in image forming apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of generating a status message in an image forming apparatus including at least one detachable expendable, comprising the steps of:
- counting a number of papers being printed after the at least one expendable has been replaced, and storing a counting value as an amount of use in a nonvolatile memory; and
printing out the status message including the amount of use, whenever the image forming apparatus is turned on.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes detachable expendables such as a photosensitive drum, a toner cartridge, an ozone filter, etc. The image forming apparatus counts a number of papers being printed after replacing the expendable and stores a counting value as an amount of use in a nonvolatile memory, and prints out a status message including the amount of use, periodically or whenever the image forming apparatus is turned on. Further, the status message includes a predetermined test pattern for testing the printing status of the printer. In the light of the status message, the user may predict in advance the proper replacing time and cope with degradation of the images by checking the printing status from the test pattern at any time.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of generating a status message in an image forming apparatus including at least one detachable expendable, comprising the steps of:
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counting a number of papers being printed after the at least one expendable has been replaced, and storing a counting value as an amount of use in a nonvolatile memory; and printing out the status message including the amount of use, whenever the image forming apparatus is turned on. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of generating a status message in an image forming apparatus including at least one expendable, comprising the steps of:
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counting a number of papers being printed after the at least one expendable has been replaced, and storing a counting value as an amount of use in a nonvolatile memory; and printing out the status message including the amount of use at a predetermined time period; further comprising the steps of;
comparing said amount of use with a predetermined warning value which is set to be lower than a predetermined replacing time value of the at least one expandable, and adding replacement request information to said status message if the amount of use is greater than the warning value. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of generating a status message in an image forming apparatus including at least one expendable, comprising the steps of:
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counting a number of papers being printed after the at least one expendable has been replaced, and storing a counting value as an amount of use in a nonvolatile memory; and printing out the status message including the amount of use at a predetermined time period; said status message comprising a predetermined test pattern for testing a printing status of the image forming apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for generating a status message in an image forming apparatus including at least one detachable expendable, comprising:
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a counter for counting a number of papers being printed after the at least one expendable has been replaced, and a nonvolatile memory for storing a counting value as an amount of use; and a means for causing the printing out of the status message including the amount of use, whenever the image forming apparatus is turned on. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for generating a status message in an image forming apparatus including at least one expendable, comprising:
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a counter for counting a number of papers being printed after the at least one expendable has been replaced, and a nonvolatile memory for storing a counting value as an amount of use; and a means for causing the printing out of the status message including the amount of use at a predetermined time period; further comprising;
a comparator for comparing said amount of use with a predetermined warning value which is set to be lower than a predetermined replacing time value of the at least one expandable, and a means for adding replacement request information to said status message if the amount of use is determined to be greater than the warning value. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for generating a status message in an image forming apparatus including at least one expendable, comprising:
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a counter for counting a number of papers being printed after the at least one expendable has been replaced, and a nonvolatile memory for storing a counting value as an amount of use; and a means for causing the printing out of the status message including the amount of use at a predetermined time period; said status message comprising a predetermined test pattern for testing a printing status of the image forming apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification