# US 2022/0035294 A1 · Image Forming Apparatus and Method for Controlling Image Forming Apparatus

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- Number: US 2022/0035294 A1
- Document ID: US20220035294A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/391,380
- Filed: 2021-08-02
- Published: 2022-02-03
- Earliest claimed: 2020-08-03
- Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc.
- Applicants: Konica Minolta, Inc.
- Inventors: Ken MIYAZAKI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220035294A1

## CPC

- G03G 15/556: {for toner consumption, e.g. pixel counting, toner coverage detection or toner density measurement}
- G03G 15/5016: {User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console}
- G06F 3/1235: {caused by end of consumables, e.g. paper, ink, toner}
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: a hardware processor that: estimates a remaining amount of toner in a cartridge; registers a required replacement time corresponding to a time required by an operator to replace the cartridge; calculates a toner consumption speed when an image is printed, on the basis of data of the image to be printed and a printing speed when the image is printed; predicts a first timing at which the cartridge reaches a toner runout state during printing of the image, on the basis of the remaining amount of toner and the toner consumption speed; and makes notification for prompting the operator to replace the cartridge at a second timing before the first timing by the required replacement time.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming apparatus comprising:
a hardware processor that:
estimates a remaining amount of toner in a cartridge;
registers a required replacement time corresponding to a time required by an operator to replace the cartridge;
calculates a toner consumption speed when an image is printed, on the basis of data of the image to be printed and a printing speed when the image is printed;
predicts a first timing at which the cartridge reaches a toner runout state during printing of the image, on the basis of the remaining amount of toner and the toner consumption speed; and
makes notification for prompting the operator to replace the cartridge at a second timing before the first timing by the required replacement time.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the hardware processor corrects the required replacement time on the basis of a third timing at which the cartridge is actually replaced by the operator while the image forming apparatus is in operation.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the hardware processor corrects the required replacement time in an increasing direction in a case where the third timing is delayed from a timing at which the cartridge reaches a toner runout state.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the hardware processor makes the notification to a display of the image forming apparatus.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. wherein
the hardware processor makes the notification to a mobile terminal carried by the operator.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
the hardware processor separately registers the required replacement time that defines a timing at which the notification is made to the display, and the required replacement time that defines a timing at which the notification is made to the mobile terminal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the image forming apparatus is applied to printing on a long sheet.

### Claim 8

A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:
estimating a remaining amount of toner in a cartridge;
registering a required replacement time corresponding to a time required by an operator to replace the cartridge;
calculating a toner consumption speed when an image is printed, on the basis of data of the image to be printed and a printing speed when the image is printed;
predicting a first timing at which the cartridge reaches a toner runout state during printing of the image, on the basis of the remaining amount of toner and the toner consumption speed; and
making notification for prompting the operator to replace the cartridge at a second timing before the first timing by the required replacement time.