Device for carrier deterioration estimation, image forming apparatus incorporating same, and image forming apparatus management system

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a latent image bearer;
• a developing device to develop a latent image on the latent image bearer with a two-component developer containing carrier and toner including an additive;
• and
• a device to estimate carrier deterioration indicating a degree of deterioration of carrier inside the developing device,
• the device for carrier deterioration estimation including:
• a first carrier deterioration calculation unit to use toner consumption indicating an amount of toner consumed by the developing device and agitation time indicating a time period for which the two-component developer in the developing device is agitated to calculate a first carrier deterioration degree indicating a degree of carrier deterioration caused by a spent phenomenon, in which toner or an additive of toner adheres to a carrier surface;
• a second carrier deterioration calculation unit to use the toner consumption and the agitation time to calculate a second carrier deterioration degree indicating a degree of carrier deterioration caused by a carrier abrasion phenomenon, in which a carrier surface is abraded by agitation inside the developing device;
• and
• a carrier deterioration degree output unit to use the toner consumption to select one of the first carrier deterioration degree and the second carrier deterioration degree, and to output the selected carrier deterioration degree.

An image forming apparatus management system comprising:

• an image forming apparatus;
• and
• a management device connected to the image forming apparatus via a communication network,
• the image forming apparatus including:
• a latent image bearer;
• a developing device to develop a latent image on the latent image bearer with a two-component developer containing carrier and toner including an additive;
• a device to estimate carrier deterioration indicating a degree of deterioration of carrier inside the developing device;
• and
• a carrier deterioration degree transmission unit to transmit a carrier deterioration degree output from the device for carrier deterioration estimation to an external device via a communication network,
• the device for carrier deterioration estimation including:
• a first carrier deterioration calculation unit to use toner consumption indicating an amount of toner consumed by the developing device and agitation time indicating a time period for which the two-component developer in the developing device is agitated to calculate a first carrier deterioration degree indicating a degree of carrier deterioration caused by a spent phenomenon, in which toner or an additive of toner adheres to a carrier surface;
• a second carrier deterioration calculation unit to use the toner consumption and the agitation time to calculate a second carrier deterioration degree indicating a degree of carrier deterioration caused by a carrier abrasion phenomenon, in which a carrier surface is abraded by agitation inside the developing device;
• and
• a carrier deterioration degree output unit to use the toner consumption to select one of the first carrier deterioration degree and the second carrier deterioration degree, and to output the selected carrier deterioration degree, and
• the management device including a reporting unit to report that the carrier deterioration degree is transmitted from the carrier deterioration degree transmission unit of the image forming apparatus.