Apparatus and method of providing replacement instructions for consumable items used in an image forming apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for forming image includes: a storing unit for pre-storing explanation image data specifically explaining a method of replacing at least one or more consumable item which can be replaced by the user; a replacement time detecting unit for detecting replacement time of each of the consumable items; and an image control output unit for receiving replacement instruction information instructing replacement of the consumable item from the replacement time detecting unit when the replacement time detecting unit detects that the consumable item needs replacing, and outputting an image of explanation of the method of replacing the consumable item on the basis of the explanation image data of the method of replacing the consumable item stored in the storing unit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.