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

An image forming apparatus being characterized by having:

• a receiver to receive toner cartridge replacement information indicating that a toner cartridge loaded on the image forming apparatus itself or a different image forming apparatus which can be accessed by the image forming apparatus via a line of communication, has been replaced with a new one;
• an information obtainer to obtain remaining toner information of the toner cartridge having been replaced, when the toner cartridge replacement information is received by the receiver;
• a time determiner to:
• adjust the time to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge to the point of time of receiving the toner cartridge replacement information, if the amount of remaining toner obtained by the information obtainer is less than a predetermined value;
• and adjust the time to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge to another point of time than that of receiving the toner cartridge replacement information, if the amount of remaining toner is greater than the predetermined value;
• and
• a transmitter to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge in accordance with the determination of the time determiner.

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

• one or more toner cartridges;
• and
• a transmitter to transmit toner cartridge replacement information indicating that any one of the one or more toner cartridges has been replaced with a new one, the management apparatus comprising:
• a receiver to receive the toner cartridge replacement information;
• an information obtainer to obtain remaining toner information of the toner cartridge having been replaced, when the toner cartridge replacement information is received by the receiver;
• a time determiner to:
• adjust the time to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge to the point of time of receiving the toner cartridge replacement information, if the amount of remaining toner obtained by the information obtainer is less than a predetermined value;
• and
• adjust the time to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge to another point of time than that of receiving the toner cartridge replacement information, if the amount of remaining toner is greater than the predetermined value;
• and
• a transmitter to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge in accordance with the determination of the time determiner.

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

• the following step of the image forming apparatus:
• transmitting toner cartridge replacement information indicating any one of the one or more toner cartridges has been replaced with a new one, and
• the following steps of the management apparatus:
• receiving the toner cartridge replacement information;
• obtaining remaining toner information of the toner cartridge having been replaced, when the toner cartridge replacement information is received;
• adjusting the time to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge to the point of time of receiving the toner cartridge replacement information, if the amount of remaining toner obtained is less than a predetermined value;
• and
• adjusting the time to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge to another point of time than that of receiving the toner cartridge replacement information, if the amount of remaining toner is greater than the predetermined value;
• and
• outputting an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge in accordance with the determination.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a replacement toner cartridge management program to make a computer execute the following steps:

• receiving toner cartridge replacement information indicating that a toner cartridge loaded on the image forming apparatus or a different image forming apparatus which can be accessed by the image forming apparatus via a line of communication, has been replaced with a new one;
• obtaining remaining toner information of the toner cartridge having been replaced, when the toner cartridge replacement information is received;
• adjusting the time to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge to the point of time of receiving the toner cartridge replacement information, if the amount of remaining toner obtained is less than a predetermined value;
• and adjusting the time to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge to another point of time than that of receiving the toner cartridge replacement information, if the amount of remaining toner is greater than the predetermined value;
• and
• outputting an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge in accordance with the determination.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a replacement toner cartridge management program to make a computer of an image forming apparatus execute the following steps:

• receiving toner cartridge replacement information indicating that a toner cartridge loaded on the image forming apparatus or a different image forming apparatus which can be accessed by the image forming apparatus via a line of communication, has been replaced with a new one;
• obtaining remaining toner information of the toner cartridge having been replaced, when the toner cartridge replacement information is received;
• adjusting the time to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge to the point of time of receiving the toner cartridge replacement information, if the amount of remaining toner obtained is less than a predetermined value;
• and adjust the time to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge to another point of time than that of receiving the toner cartridge replacement information, if the amount of remaining toner is greater than the predetermined value;
• and
• outputting an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge in accordance with the determination.