System and method for keeping consumable items in an image forming apparatus

A method for keeping consumable items, comprising the steps of:

• setting a consumable item replenishment level for a corresponding consumable item for an image forming apparatus stored in a consumable item apparatus at the image forming apparatus;
• detecting that a corresponding consumable item in the image forming apparatus needs replenishment based on the setting step;
• detecting one of a type and a size of the corresponding consumable item needing replenishment in the image forming apparatus;
• generating a signal indicating replenishment of the corresponding consumable item has been detected;
• detecting the signal generated in the generating step;
• counting a duration of a time period that the generated signal is detected, said duration of the time period being adjustably set at the image forming apparatus by a user input;
• transmitting order data indicating a request for the corresponding consumable item that needs to be replenished to a consumable item supplying section via a communication circuit, when the signal is continuously detected for more than the duration of the time period set at the image forming apparatus by the user input;
• and
• transmitting delivery data of the corresponding consumable item to be distributed from the consumable item supplying section to the image forming apparatus such that a delivery status of the corresponding consumable item to be replenished can be confirmed.

A consumable item system comprising:

• consumable item means for storing a variety of consumable items for an image forming apparatus at the image forming apparatus;
• consumable item supplying means for supplying a variety of consumable items for the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus upon request, said consumable item supplying means being connected to the consumable item means via communication means;
• at least a first means for detecting that a corresponding consumable item in the image forming apparatus needs replenishment;
• at least a second means for detecting one of a type and a size of the corresponding consumable item needing replenishment in the image forming apparatus;
• signal generating means for generating a signal indicating said first means has detected the corresponding consumable item needs replenishment;
• signal detecting means for detecting the signal generated by the signal generating means;
• counting means for counting a duration of a time period that said detecting means detects said signal, said duration of the time period being adjustably set at the image forming apparatus by a user input;
• consumable item order data transmitting means for transmitting order data indicating a request for the corresponding consumable item that needs to be replenished to the consumable item supplying means via the communication means, when the signal detecting means continuously detects the signal for more than the duration of the time period set at the image forming apparatus by the user input;
• and
• delivery data transmitting means included in the consumable item supplying means for transmitting delivery data indicating a consumable item distributing day and consumable item scheduled delivery day from the consumable item supplying means to the image forming apparatus such that a delivery status of the corresponding consumable items to be replenished can be confirmed.

A consumable item system, comprising:

• a consumable item apparatus configured to store a variety of consumable items for an image forming apparatus at the image forming apparatus;
• a consumable item supplying section configured to supply a variety of consumable items for the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus upon request, said consumable item supplying section being connected to the consumable item apparatus via a communication circuit;
• at least a first sensor configured to detect that a corresponding consumable item in the image forming apparatus needs replenishment;
• a consumable item replenishment signal generating device configured to generate a signal indicating said first sensor has detected the corresponding consumable item needs replenishment;
• a detector configured to detect the signal generated by the generating device;
• a counter configured to count a duration of a time period that said detector detects said signal, said duration of the time period being adjustably set at the image forming apparatus by a user input;
• a consumable item order data transmitting device configured to transmit order data indicating a request for the corresponding consumable item that needs to be replenished to the consumable item supplying section via the communication circuit, when the signal is detected continuously by the detecting device for more than the duration of the time period set at the image forming apparatus by the user input;
• a delivery data transmitting device included in the consumable item supplying section and configured to transmit delivery data of the corresponding consumable item from the consumable item supplying section to the image forming apparatus such that a delivery status of the corresponding consumable item to be replenished can be confirmed;
• and
• a display at the image forming apparatus on which said delivery data is displayed.

A method for keeping consumable items, comprising the steps of:

• setting a consumable item replenishment level for a corresponding consumable item for an image forming apparatus stored in a consumable item apparatus at the image forming apparatus by a user input;
• detecting that a corresponding consumable item in the image forming apparatus needs replenishment based on the setting step;
• generating a signal indicating replenishment of the corresponding consumable item has been detected;
• detecting the signal generated in the generating step;
• counting a duration of a time period that the generated signal is detected, said duration of the time period being adjustably set at the image forming apparatus by a user input;
• transmitting order data indicating a request for the corresponding consumable item that needs to be replenished to a consumable item supplying section via a communication circuit, when the signal is continuously detected for more than the duration of the time period set at the image forming apparatus by the user input;
• transmitting delivery data of the corresponding consumable item to be distributed from the consumable item supplying section to the image forming apparatus such that a delivery status of the corresponding consumable item to be replenished can be confirmed;
• and
• displaying information of the delivery data at the image forming apparatus.

A consumable item system comprising:

• consumable item means for storing a variety of consumable items for an image forming apparatus at the image forming apparatus;
• consumable item supplying means for supplying a variety of consumable items for the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus, said consumable item supplying means being connected to the consumable item means via communication means;
• at least a first means for detecting that a corresponding consumable item in the image forming apparatus needs replenishment;
• signal generating means for generating a signal indicating said first means has detected the corresponding consumable item needs replenishment;
• signal detecting means for detecting the signal generated by the signal generating means;
• counting means for counting a duration of a time period that said detecting means detect said signal, said duration of the time period being adjustably set at the image forming apparatus by a user input;
• consumable item order data transmitting means for transmitting order data indicating a request for the corresponding consumable item that needs to be replenished to the consumable item supplying means via the communication means, when the signal detecting means continuously detects the signal for more than the duration of the time period set at the image forming apparatus by the user input;
• delivery data transmitting means included in the consumable item supplying means for transmitting delivery data indicating a consumable item distributing day and consumable item scheduled delivery day from the consumable item supplying means to the image forming apparatus such that a delivery status of the corresponding consumable items to be replenished can be confirmed;
• and
• display means for displaying the delivery data at the image forming apparatus.