Image forming apparatus, replacement toner cartridge management apparatus, replacement toner cartridge management system, replacement toner cartridge management method, and recording medium

A replacement toner cartridge management apparatus being characterized by having:

• a receiver to receive from at least one image forming apparatus which can be accessed by the replacement toner cartridge management apparatus:
• first information indicating that a toner cartridge has been replaced or a toner cartridge needs to be replaced;
• and second information indicating a log of fusing conditions for the at least one image forming apparatus to perform image forming;
• a determiner to determine the type of a replacement toner cartridge to be loaded in place of the toner cartridge causing the first information, on the basis of the second information, when the first information is received by the receiver;
• an output portion to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge of the type determined by the determiner;
• and
• a notifier to notify the at least one image forming apparatus of the type determined by the determiner, such that the at least one image forming apparatus can perform a fusing process under one of the fusing conditions, the one being optimal for the amount of toner supplied, after the toner cartridge is replaced with the replacement toner cartridge delivered in accordance with the delivery instruction.

A replacement toner cartridge management system being characterized by having a management apparatus and at least one image forming apparatus which can be accessed by each other via a line of communication,

• the at least one image forming apparatus comprising a transmitter to transmit:
• first information indicating that a toner cartridge has been replaced or a toner cartridge needs to be replaced;
• and second information indicating a log of fusing conditions for the at least one image forming apparatus to perform image forming,
• the management apparatus comprising:
• a receiver to receive the first information and the second information;
• a determiner to determine the type of a replacement toner cartridge to be loaded in place of the toner cartridge causing the first information, on the basis of the second information, when the first information is received;
• an output portion to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge of the type determined by the determiner;
• and
• a notifier to notify the at least one image forming apparatus of the type determined by the determiner,
• the at least one image forming apparatus further comprising:
• a detector to detect that a toner cartridge has been replaced;
• an identifier to identify the type of the replacement toner cartridge delivered, on the basis of the notification of the notifier;
• and
• a fuser to perform a fusing process under one of the fusing conditions, the one being optimal for the amount of toner supplied, after the detector detects that the toner cartridge has been replaced with the replacement toner cartridge delivered in accordance with the delivery instruction, the replacement toner cartridge whose type is identified by the identifier.

A replacement toner cartridge management method being implemented by a replacement toner cartridge management system comprising a management apparatus and at least one image forming apparatus which can be accessed by each other via a line of communication, the replacement toner cartridge management method being characterized by having:

• the following step of the at least one image forming apparatus:
• transmitting:
• first information indicating that a toner cartridge has been replaced or a toner cartridge needs to be replaced;
• and second information indicating a log of fusing conditions for the at least one image forming apparatus to perform image forming;
• the following steps of the management apparatus:
• receiving the first information and the second information;
• determining the type of a replacement toner cartridge to be loaded in place of the toner cartridge causing the first information, on the basis of the second information, when receiving the first information;
• outputting an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge of the type determined in the determination step;
• and
• notifying the at least one image forming apparatus of the type determined in the determination step;
• and
• the following steps of the at least one image forming apparatus:
• detecting that a toner cartridge has been replaced;
• identifying the type of the replacement toner cartridge delivered, on the basis of the notification in the notification step;
• and
• performing a fusing process under one of the fusing conditions, the one being optimal for the amount of toner supplied, after detecting in the detection step that the toner cartridge has been replaced with the replacement toner cartridge delivered in accordance with the delivery instruction, the replacement toner cartridge whose type is identified in the identification step.

A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having a fuser control program stored thereon to make a computer of an image forming apparatus execute:

• obtaining:
• first information indicating that a toner cartridge has been replaced or a toner cartridge needs to be replaced;
• and second information indicating a log of fusing conditions for the image forming apparatus to perform image forming;
• determining the type of a replacement toner cartridge to be loaded in place of the toner cartridge causing the first information, on the basis of the second information, when obtaining the first information in the obtaining step;
• outputting an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge of the type determined in the determination step;
• detecting that a toner cartridge has been replaced;
• and
• performing a fusing process under one of the fusing conditions, the one being optimal for the amount of toner supplied, after detecting in the detection step that the toner cartridge has been replaced with the replacement toner cartridge delivered in accordance with the delivery instruction.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having a replacement toner cartridge management program stored thereon to make a computer of a management apparatus execute:

• receiving from at least one image forming apparatus which can be accessed by the replacement toner cartridge management apparatus:
• first information indicating that a toner cartridge has been replaced or a toner cartridge needs to be replaced;
• and second information indicating a log of fusing conditions for the at least one image forming apparatus to perform image forming;
• determining the type of a replacement toner cartridge to be loaded in place of the toner cartridge causing the first information, on the basis of the second information, when receiving the first information in the receiving step;
• outputting an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge of the type determined in the determination step;
• and
• notifying the at least one image forming apparatus of the type determined in the determination step, such that the at least one image forming apparatus can perform a fusing process under one of the fusing conditions, the one being optimal for the amount of toner supplied, after the toner cartridge is replaced with the replacement toner cartridge delivered in accordance with the delivery instruction.