JP2019111795A - Image formation apparatus and consumable supply order placement timing notification method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image formation apparatus and consumable supply order placement timing notification method which can suppress the shortage in the residual amount of the consumable supply before the consumable supply is prepared.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus includes: a residual amount acquisition unit which acquires the residual amount of a consumable supply; a speed acquisition unit which acquires the consumption speed of the consumable supply; a first determination processing unit which determines the presence/absence of the arrival of the order placement timing on the basis of whether or not the acquired residual amount of the consumable supply is equal or less than the consumption amount of the consumable supply in the preparation period calculated based on the consumption speed when the acquired consumption speed of the consumable supply exceeds a threshold; a second determination processing unit which determines the presence/absence of the arrival of the order placement timing on the basis of whether or not the acquired residual amount of the consumable supply is equal or less than the lower limit value when the acquired consumption speed of the consumable supply is equal or less than the threshold; and a notification processing unit which notifies of the arrival of the order placement timing when it is determined that the order placement timing has arrived.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image using consumables, and a method of notifying order timing of consumables that is executed by the image forming apparatus.

  In an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image based on image data, consumables such as a developer are used to form an image. In this type of image forming apparatus, when the remaining amount of the consumable item falls below a predetermined threshold value, it may be notified that the timing for ordering the consumable item has arrived. Further, an image forming apparatus capable of changing the threshold according to the consumption rate of the consumable item is known as a prior art so that a predetermined number of days for preparing the consumable item can be secured (Patent Document 1) reference).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-29584

  By the way, in an image forming apparatus in which the number of printed sheets is small normally, the number of printed sheets may temporarily increase rapidly due to a sudden situation. Here, in the image forming apparatus according to the related art, when the number of printed sheets is small, the threshold is set to a low value. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of the related art, when the number of printed sheets temporarily increases rapidly after the remaining amount of the consumable item falls below the threshold value, the remaining amount of the consumable item is prepared before the consumable item is prepared. May run out.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing the expiration of the remaining amount of the consumable before the consumable is prepared, and a method of notifying order timing of the consumable.

  An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a remaining amount acquisition unit, a speed acquisition unit, a first determination processing unit, a second determination processing unit, and a notification processing unit. The remaining amount acquisition unit acquires the remaining amount of the consumable item. The speed acquisition unit acquires the consumption speed of the consumable item. The first determination processing unit calculates, based on the consumption rate, the remaining amount acquired by the remaining amount acquisition unit when the consumption rate acquired by the speed acquisition unit exceeds a preset threshold. Whether or not the timing for ordering the consumable item has arrived is determined based on whether or not the consumption amount of the consumable item is less than or equal to the consumption amount of the preset period. The second determination processing unit calculates the remaining amount acquired by the remaining amount acquisition unit based on the consumption rate when the consumption rate acquired by the speed acquisition unit is equal to or less than the threshold. Whether or not the order timing has arrived is determined based on whether or not it is equal to or less than a preset lower limit value which is equal to or more than the consumption amount of the consumable item in the period. The notification processing unit notifies that effect when it is determined that the order timing has come.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for informing an order timing of consumables, which is executed by an image forming apparatus, acquiring the remaining amount of the consumables, acquiring the consumption rate of the consumables, and When the consumption rate exceeds a preset threshold value, whether or not the acquired remaining amount is equal to or less than the consumption amount of the consumables in a preset period calculated based on the consumption rate. Based on the determination of presence / absence of the ordering timing of the consumable item, and when the acquired consumption rate is equal to or less than the threshold, the acquired remaining amount is calculated based on the consumption rate. It is determined that the order timing has arrived based on whether or not the order timing has arrived based on whether or not it is less than or equal to a preset lower limit value which is greater than the consumption amount of the consumables in the period. Including and be informed to that effect in the case, the.

  According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing the expiration of the remaining amount of the consumable item before the consumable item is prepared, and a method of notifying order timing of the consumable item are realized.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the consumption recording process executed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the lower limit setting process executed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of order timing notification processing performed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of transition of the remaining amount of consumables in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a view showing another example of the transition of the remaining amount of consumables in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. The following embodiments are merely specific examples of the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[Schematic Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 10]
First, a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10. As shown in FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction peripheral having a scan function for reading image data from a document, a print function for forming an image based on image data, and a plurality of functions such as a facsimile function and a copy function. The present invention is applicable to image forming apparatuses such as a printer, a facsimile, and a copier.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an ADF 1, an image reading unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a sheet feeding unit 4, a control unit 5, an operation display unit 6, a communication unit 7, and a storage unit. It has eight.

  The ADF 1 is an automatic document conveying device that includes a document setting unit, a plurality of conveyance rollers, a document pressing unit, and a discharge unit, and conveys a document read by the image reading unit 2. The image reading unit 2 includes a document table, a light source, a plurality of mirrors, an optical lens, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and can read image data from a document.

  The image forming unit 3 can form an image by an electrophotographic method based on image data read by the image reading unit 2 or image data input from an information processing apparatus such as an external personal computer. The image forming unit 3 may be capable of forming an image by another image forming method such as an inkjet method.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 3 includes the photosensitive drum 31, the charging roller 32, the light scanning device 33, the developing device 34, the transfer roller 35, the cleaning device 36, the fixing device 37, and A paper tray 38 is provided. The photosensitive drum 31 carries a toner image. The charging roller 32 applies a voltage to charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 31. The light scanning device 33 scans light based on image data onto the photosensitive drum 31. The developing device 34 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 31 using a developer. The transfer roller 35 receives a voltage application to transfer the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 onto a sheet. The cleaning device 36 cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 after the transfer of the toner image by the transfer roller 35. The fixing device 37 heats the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred to fix the toner image on the sheet. The sheet on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the discharge tray 38.

  The sheet feeding unit 4 includes a sheet feeding cassette and a plurality of conveyance rollers, and supplies the sheet stored in the sheet feeding cassette to the image forming unit 3. The sheets stored in the sheet feeding cassette are sheet materials such as paper, coated paper, postcards, envelopes, and OHP sheets.

  In the image forming unit 3, an image is formed on the sheet supplied from the sheet feeding unit 4 in the following procedure, and the sheet after the image formation is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 38.

  First, the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential by the charging roller 32. Next, the light scanning device 33 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 with light based on the image data. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31. Then, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 31 is developed (visualized) as a toner image by the developing device 34. Note that toner (developer) is replenished to the developing device 34 from a toner container 34A attachable to and detachable from the image forming unit 3.

  Subsequently, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 31 is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer roller 35. Thereafter, the toner image transferred to the sheet is heated and fixed by the fixing device 37. The toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is removed by the cleaning device 36.

  The control unit 5 includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an EEPROM (registered trademark) (not shown). The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic processing. The ROM is a non-volatile storage device in which information such as a control program for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile storage device used as a temporary storage memory (work area) of various processes executed by the CPU. The EEPROM is a non-volatile storage device. In the control unit 5, the CPU executes various control programs stored in advance in the ROM. As a result, the image forming apparatus 10 is integrally controlled by the control unit 5. The control unit 5 may be configured by an electronic circuit such as an integrated circuit (ASIC) or the like, and is a control unit provided separately from the main control unit that generally controls the image forming apparatus 10. May be

  The operation display unit 6 is a display unit such as a liquid crystal display that displays various types of information in response to a control instruction from the control unit 5, and operation keys or a touch panel that inputs various types of information to the control unit 5 in accordance with user operations. Etc. has an operation unit.

  The communication unit 7 is a communication interface capable of executing data communication with the external information processing apparatus 100 (see FIG. 2) through wired or wireless communication via the communication network 101 (see FIG. 2).

  The storage unit 8 is a non-volatile storage device. For example, the storage unit 8 is a storage device such as a flash memory, an SSD (solid state drive), or an HDD (hard disk drive).

  In the image forming apparatus 10, consumables such as a developer are used to form an image. In the image forming apparatus that forms an image using the consumable item, when the remaining amount of the consumable item falls below a predetermined value, it may be notified that the timing for ordering the consumable item has arrived. . Further, an image forming apparatus capable of changing the value according to the consumption rate of the consumable item is known as a prior art so that a predetermined number of days for preparing the consumable item can be secured.

  By the way, in an image forming apparatus in which the number of printed sheets is small normally, the number of printed sheets may temporarily increase rapidly due to a sudden situation. Here, in the image forming apparatus of the related art, when the number of printed sheets is small, the value is set to a low value. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of the related art, when the number of printed sheets temporarily increases rapidly after the remaining amount of the consumable item falls below the value, the remaining amount of the consumable item is prepared before the consumable item is prepared. May run out.

  On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as described below, it is possible to suppress that the remaining amount of the consumable item runs out before the consumable item is prepared.

  Specifically, the ROM of the control unit 5 performs consumption recording processing (see the flowchart of FIG. 3), lower limit setting processing (see the flowchart of FIG. 4), and order timing notification processing (see FIG. 5). An order timing notification program for executing (1) is stored in advance. The order timing notification program is recorded in a computer readable recording medium such as a CD, a DVD, a flash memory, etc., read from the recording medium and installed in a storage device such as the EEPROM of the control unit 5. It may be one.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 5 uses the consumption acquisition unit 51, the recording processing unit 52, the remaining amount acquisition unit 53, the speed acquisition unit 54, the first determination processing unit 55, and the second determination processing unit 56. , A notification processing unit 57, a detection processing unit 58, a first setting processing unit 59, and a second setting processing unit 60. Specifically, the control unit 5 executes the order timing notification program stored in the ROM using the CPU. Thus, the control unit 5 includes the consumption acquisition unit 51, the recording processing unit 52, the remaining amount acquisition unit 53, the speed acquisition unit 54, the first determination processing unit 55, the second determination processing unit 56, the notification processing unit 57, and the detection. It functions as the processing unit 58, the first setting processing unit 59, and the second setting processing unit 60.

  The consumption acquisition unit 51 acquires the consumption of the consumable item in the printing process when the printing process for forming an image is executed based on the image data.

  Specifically, the consumption acquisition unit 51 acquires the consumption of the developer in the printing process as the consumption of the consumable.

  For example, the consumption acquisition unit 51 calculates the consumption of the developer in the printing process based on the image data to be printed in the printing process. Specifically, the consumption acquisition unit 51 calculates the printing rate of each page to be printed based on the image data to be printed in the printing process. Then, the consumption acquisition unit 51 calculates the consumption of the developer in the printing process based on the calculated printing rate and the number of copies of each page to be printed.

  The consumption acquisition unit 51 may acquire the supply amount of the developer from the toner container 34A in the printing process as the consumption of the developer in the printing process. For example, the consumption acquisition unit 51 can calculate the amount of developer supplied from the toner container 34A based on the driving time of the transport screw provided in the toner container 34A. In addition, the consumption acquisition unit 51 may acquire, from the arithmetic device, the consumption amount of the developer calculated by the arithmetic device different from the control unit 5. The consumption acquisition unit 51 may acquire the consumption of the sheet in the printing process as the consumption of the consumable.

  The recording processing unit 52 records the consumption of the consumable item acquired by the consumption acquiring unit 51.

  For example, the recording processing unit 52 stores consumption amount information indicating the consumption amount of the consumable item acquired by the consumption amount acquiring unit 51 and the execution date and time of the printing process in the storage unit 8. Record the consumption of the consumables obtained by

  The control unit 5 may not include the consumption acquisition unit 51 and the recording processing unit 52.

  The remaining amount acquisition unit 53 acquires the remaining amount of the consumable item.

  Specifically, the remaining amount acquisition unit 53 acquires the remaining amount of the consumable when the predetermined determination timing has come. For example, the determination timing is a timing that arrives at a predetermined determination cycle with a predetermined reference time as the starting point. For example, the determination cycle is one day. The determination cycle may be 12 hours, 2 days, or the like. Further, the determination timing may be a timing that arrives each time the printing process is performed a predetermined number of times.

  Further, the remaining amount acquisition unit 53 acquires the remaining amount of developer at the time of the determination timing as the remaining amount of the consumable item.

  For example, the remaining amount acquisition unit 53 acquires the storage amount (initial storage amount) of the developer of the toner container 34A at the start of use of the image forming apparatus 10 or replacement of the toner container 34A. For example, the toner container 34A is provided with an IC tag for storing the initial storage amount of the developer in the toner container 34A. For example, the remaining amount acquisition unit 53 reads out the initial storage amount of the developer in the toner container 34A from the IC tag using a reading device (not shown). Further, the remaining amount acquisition unit 53 reads out each of the consumption amount information from the storage unit 8 and calculates the total value of the consumption amount of developer from the start of use of the image forming apparatus 10 or the replacement of the toner container 34A. . Then, the remaining amount acquisition unit 53 calculates the remaining amount of developer at the time of the determination timing based on the initial storage amount of the developer in the toner container 34A and the accumulated value of the calculated consumption amount of developer. .

  The remaining amount acquisition unit 53 may acquire the remaining amount of developer at the time of the determination timing, using a sensor capable of detecting the remaining amount of developer stored in the toner container 34A. In addition, the remaining amount acquisition unit 53 may acquire the remaining amount of the sheet stored in the sheet feeding cassette at the time of the determination timing as the remaining amount of the consumable item.

  The speed acquisition unit 54 acquires the consumption speed of the consumable item.

  Specifically, the speed acquisition unit 54 acquires the consumption speed of the consumable based on the consumption of the consumable recorded by the recording processing unit 52.

  Further, the speed acquisition unit 54 acquires the consumption speed of the consumable item when the determination timing comes.

  For example, the speed acquisition unit 54 acquires, as the consumption speed of the consumable item, an average value of the amount of consumption of developer per day in a predetermined target period until the arrival of the determination timing. For example, the target period is a period from the start of use of the image forming apparatus 10 or the replacement of the toner container 34A to the arrival of the determination timing.

  Specifically, the speed acquisition unit 54 divides the accumulated value of the consumption amount of developer calculated by the remaining amount acquisition unit 53 by the number of days elapsed from the start of use of the image forming apparatus 10 or the replacement of the toner container 34A. By doing this, the average value of the amount of consumption of developer per day in the target period is calculated.

  The target period may be shorter than the period from the start of use of the image forming apparatus 10 or the replacement of the toner container 34A to the arrival of the determination timing. In addition, the speed acquisition unit 54 may acquire an average value of the consumption of the sheet for one day in the target period as the consumption speed of the consumable item. In addition, the speed acquisition unit 54 may acquire the consumption speed of the consumable based on the amount of change of the remaining amount of the consumable in the cycle of the determination timing.

  When the consumption rate of the consumable item acquired by the speed acquisition unit 54 exceeds a preset threshold value, the first determination processing unit 55 determines the presence or absence of the ordering timing of the consumable item. Specifically, in the first determination processing unit 55, the remaining amount of the consumable item acquired by the remaining amount acquisition unit 53 is calculated in advance based on the consumption rate of the consumable item acquired by the speed acquisition unit 54. Whether or not the timing for ordering the consumable item has arrived is determined based on whether or not the consumption amount of the consumable item is less than or equal to the consumption amount of the set preparation period. Here, the preparation period is an example of a preset period in the present invention.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus 10, the threshold is set to a predetermined first initial value. Further, in the image forming apparatus 10, the setting of the content of the threshold is changed by the second setting processing unit 60.

  Further, the preparation period is a period set based on a period from when the consumable item is ordered to when the consumable item related to the order reaches the user of the image forming apparatus 10. Specifically, the preparation period is set to be longer than a period from when the consumable item is ordered to when the consumable item related to the order reaches the user of the image forming apparatus 10. For example, the preparation period is set according to the user operation on the operation display unit 6.

  Specifically, the first determination processing unit 55 multiplies the consumption rate of the consumable acquired by the speed acquisition unit 54 by the preparation period to calculate the consumption amount of the consumable during the preparation period.

  When the consumption rate of the consumable item acquired by the speed acquisition unit 54 is equal to or less than the threshold value, the second determination processing unit 56 determines whether or not the order timing of the consumable item has arrived. Specifically, the second determination processing unit 56 calculates the remaining amount of the consumable item acquired by the remaining amount acquisition unit 53 based on the consumption rate of the consumable item acquired by the speed acquisition unit 54. Whether or not the timing for ordering the consumable item has arrived is determined based on whether or not it is equal to or less than a preset lower limit value which is equal to or more than the consumption amount of the consumable item in the preparation period.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus 10, the lower limit value is set to a predetermined second initial value. Further, in the image forming apparatus 10, the first setting processing unit 59 changes the setting of the content of the lower limit value.

  The notification processing unit 57 notifies that effect when one of the first determination processing unit 55 and the second determination processing unit 56 determines that the order timing of the consumable item has arrived.

  Specifically, the notification processing unit 57 notifies the information processing apparatus 100 connected communicably to the apparatus itself that the order timing of the consumable item has arrived. For example, the notification processing unit 57 causes the display unit of the information processing apparatus 100 to display a message including an indication that the timing for ordering the consumable item has arrived. For example, the information processing apparatus 100 is a personal computer used by a clerk in charge of arranging for the consumable item to be shipped to the user in response to an order from the user of the image forming apparatus 10. Here, the information processing apparatus 100 is an example of a predetermined information processing apparatus in the present invention.

  The notification processing unit 57 may cause the operation display unit 6 to display the message. Further, the notification processing unit 57 may transmit an e-mail including the message to a predetermined contact address.

  The detection processing unit 58 detects an increase period during which the consumption amount of the consumable item rapidly increases based on the consumption amount of the consumable item recorded by the recording processing unit 52.

  Specifically, the detection processing unit 58 detects the increase period when a predetermined detection timing arrives. For example, the detection timing is timing that arrives at a predetermined detection cycle with the reference time as an origination point. For example, the detection cycle is 10 days. The detection cycle may be one week or one month. The detection timing may be a timing that arrives each time the printing process is performed a predetermined number of times.

  Here, the rapid increase in the consumption of the consumables means that the consumption of the consumables in one day exceeds the standard consumption described below. Specifically, the reference consumption amount can be obtained by multiplying the consumption amount of the consumable item in one day based on the consumption rate of the consumable item acquired by the speed acquisition unit 54 by a predetermined first coefficient. It is a value. For example, the first coefficient is 2.0. Note that the first coefficient may be any value greater than one.

  For example, the detection processing unit 58 calculates the consumption amount of the consumable item for each day in the detection cycle based on the consumption amount of the consumable item recorded by the recording processing unit 52. Further, the detection processing unit 58 calculates the reference consumption amount based on the consumption rate of the consumable item acquired most recently by the speed acquisition unit 54. Then, when there is a day where the consumption amount of the consumable item exceeds the reference consumption amount in the detection cycle, the detection processing unit 58 detects the day or the continuation of the day as the increase period.

  The first setting processing unit 59 sets the lower limit value based on the consumption amount of the consumable item in the increase period detected by the detection processing unit 58. Here, the first setting processing unit 59 is an example of the setting processing unit in the present invention.

  Specifically, the first setting processing unit 59 sets the lower limit value to a value exceeding the consumption amount of the consumable item in the increase period detected by the detection processing unit 58.

  For example, the first setting processing unit 59 sets the lower limit value to a value obtained by multiplying the consumption amount of the consumable item in the increase period detected by the detection processing unit 58 by a predetermined second coefficient. Do. For example, the second coefficient is 1.2. Note that the second coefficient may be an arbitrary value exceeding one. Further, the first setting processing unit 59 sets the lower limit value to a value obtained by adding a predetermined value to the consumption amount of the consumable item in the increase period detected by the detection processing unit 58. It is also good.

  The first setting processing unit 59 does not set the lower limit value when the detection processing unit 58 does not detect the increase period.

  The second setting processing unit 60 sets the threshold based on the lower limit value set by the first setting processing unit 59.

  Specifically, the second setting processing unit 60 sets the threshold so that the lower limit value satisfies the setting condition described below. Specifically, the setting condition is the preparation in which the lower limit value is calculated based on the consumption speed when the value of the consumption speed of the consumable item acquired by the speed acquisition unit 54 is the same as the threshold. Or more of the consumption value of the consumable item in a period.

  The first initial value and the second initial value are set so as to satisfy the setting condition. For example, the second initial value is in the preparation period calculated based on the consumption speed when the value of the consumption speed of the consumable item acquired by the speed acquisition unit 54 is the same as the first initial value. It is determined to be the same as the consumption value of the consumable item.

  For example, the second setting processing unit 60 sets the threshold value to a value obtained by dividing the lower limit value set by the first setting processing unit 59 by the number of days of the preparation period. In this case, the lower limit value is the consumption amount of the consumable item in the preparation period calculated based on the consumption speed when the value of the consumption speed acquired by the speed acquiring unit 54 is the same as the threshold. It is identical to the value. The second setting processing unit 60 may set the threshold to a value smaller than a value obtained by dividing the lower limit value set by the first setting processing unit 59 by the number of days of the preparation period. .

  The second setting processing unit 60 does not set the threshold value when the detection processing unit 58 does not detect the increase period.

  The control unit 5 may not include the detection processing unit 58, the first setting processing unit 59, and the second setting processing unit 60.

[Consumption record processing]
Hereinafter, an example of the procedure of the consumption recording process executed by the control unit 5 in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. Here, steps S11, S12,... Indicate the numbers of the processing procedures (steps) executed by the control unit 5.

<Step S11>
First, in step S11, the control unit 5 determines whether the printing process is to be performed.

  Here, when the control unit 5 determines that the printing process is to be performed (Yes in S11), the control unit 5 shifts the process to step S12. If the printing process is not executed (No in S11), the control unit 5 waits for the printing process to be executed in step S11.

<Step S12>
In step S12, the control unit 5 acquires the consumption amount of the consumable item in the printing process determined to be executed in step S11. Here, the process of step S12 is executed by the consumption acquisition unit 51 of the control unit 5.

  Specifically, the control unit 5 acquires the consumption amount of the developer in the printing process as the consumption amount of the consumable item. For example, the control unit 5 calculates the consumption amount of the developer in the printing process based on the image data to be printed in the printing process.

<Step S13>
In step S13, the control unit 5 records the consumption amount of the consumable item acquired in step S12. Here, the process of step S13 is executed by the recording processing unit 52 of the control unit 5.

  For example, the control unit 5 stores in the storage unit 8 the consumption amount information indicating the consumption amount of the consumable obtained in step S12 and the execution date and time of the printing process determined to be executed in step S11. Then, the consumption amount of the consumable item acquired in step S12 is recorded.

  The consumption recording process may not be performed in the image forming apparatus 10.

[Low limit setting process]
Next, an example of the procedure of the lower limit value setting process performed by the control unit 5 in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

<Step S21>
First, in step S21, the control unit 5 determines whether the detection timing has arrived.

  For example, the control unit 5 determines that the detection timing has arrived when the detection cycle has elapsed since the arrival of the previous detection timing.

  Here, when the control unit 5 determines that the detection timing has come (Yes in S21), the control unit 5 shifts the process to step S22. Moreover, if the said detection timing has not come (No side of S21), the control part 5 will wait for the said detection timing to arrive by step S21.

<Step S22>
In step S22, the control unit 5 executes a detection process of detecting the increase period based on the consumption of the consumable item recorded by the consumption recording process. Here, the process of step S22 is executed by the detection processing unit 58 of the control unit 5.

  For example, the control unit 5 calculates the consumption amount of the consumable item for each day in the detection cycle based on the consumption amount of the consumable item recorded by the consumption amount recording process. Further, the control unit 5 calculates the reference consumption amount based on the consumption rate of the consumable item acquired in step S33 of the order timing notification process (described later) executed most recently. Then, when there is a day in which the consumption of the consumable item exceeds the reference consumption in the detection cycle, the control unit 5 detects the day or the continuation of the day as the increase period.

<Step S23>
In step S23, the control unit 5 determines whether the increase period is detected in step S22.

  Here, when the control unit 5 determines that the increase period has been detected (Yes in S23), the control unit 5 shifts the process to step S24. Moreover, if the said increase period is not detected (No side of S23), the control part 5 will transfer a process to step S21.

<Step S24>
In step S24, the control unit 5 sets the lower limit value based on the consumption amount of the consumable item in the increase period detected in step S22. Here, the process of step S24 is executed by the first setting processing unit 59 of the control unit 5.

  For example, the control unit 5 sets the lower limit value to a value obtained by multiplying the consumption amount of the consumable item in the increase period detected in step S22 by the second coefficient.

  Thereby, it is possible to set the lower limit value to a value according to the use situation of each user. Therefore, as compared with the configuration in which the lower limit value is uniformly set, it is more effectively suppressed that the remaining amount of the consumable item is depleted before the consumable item is prepared.

<Step S25>
In step S25, the control unit 5 sets the threshold based on the lower limit value set in step S24. Here, the process of step S25 is executed by the second setting processing unit 60 of the control unit 5.

  For example, the control unit 5 sets the threshold value to a value obtained by dividing the lower limit value set in step S24 by the number of days of the preparation period.

  Thereby, the order timing of the consumable item is compared with a configuration in which the threshold value is set to a value smaller than a value obtained by dividing the lower limit value set in step S24 by the number of days of the preparation period. It can be avoided that the value used for determining whether to notify is less than the lower limit value. In other words, in the image forming apparatus 10, when the remaining amount of the consumable item becomes equal to or less than the lower limit value, the ordering timing of the consumable item is always notified.

  The lower limit value setting process may not be performed in the image forming apparatus 10.

[Order timing notification process]
Next, with reference to FIG. 5, an example of the procedure of the order timing notification process executed by the control unit 5 in the image forming apparatus 10 and the method of notifying the order timing of consumables according to the present invention will be described.

<Step S31>
First, in step S31, the control unit 5 determines whether the determination timing has come.

  For example, the control unit 5 determines that the determination timing has arrived when the determination cycle has elapsed since the arrival of the previous determination timing.

  Here, when determining that the determination timing has come (Yes in S31), the control unit 5 shifts the process to step S32. Moreover, if the said determination timing has not come (No side of S31), the control part 5 will wait for the said determination timing to arrive by step S31.

<Step S32>
In step S32, the control unit 5 acquires the remaining amount of the consumable item. Here, the process of step S32 is executed by the remaining amount acquisition unit 53 of the control unit 5.

  Specifically, the control unit 5 acquires the current remaining amount of developer as the remaining amount of the consumable item. For example, the control unit 5 acquires the storage amount (initial storage amount) of the developer of the toner container 34A at the start of use of the image forming apparatus 10 or at the replacement of the toner container 34A. Further, the control unit 5 reads out each of the consumption amount information from the storage unit 8 and calculates a cumulative value of the consumption amount of the developer from the start of use of the image forming apparatus 10 or the replacement of the toner container 34A. Then, the control unit 5 calculates the current remaining amount of developer based on the initial storage amount of the developer in the toner container 34A and the calculated accumulated value of the consumption amount of the developer.

<Step S33>
In step S33, the control unit 5 acquires the consumption rate of the consumable item. Here, the processing of step S33 is executed by the speed acquisition unit 54 of the control unit 5.

  For example, the control unit 5 acquires, as the consumption rate of the consumable item, an average value of the amount of consumption of the developer in one day in the target period. Specifically, the control unit 5 divides the accumulated value of the consumption amount of the developer calculated in step S32 by the number of days elapsed since the start of use of the image forming apparatus 10 or the replacement of the toner container 34A. An average value of the amount of consumption of developer per day in the target period is calculated.

<Step S34>
In step S34, the control unit 5 determines whether the consumption rate of the consumable item acquired in step S33 exceeds the threshold.

  Here, when the process of step S25 of the lower limit setting process is performed, the threshold is a value set in the process. On the other hand, when the process of step S25 of the lower limit setting process is not performed, the threshold is the first initial value.

  Here, when determining that the consumption rate of the consumable item acquired in step S33 exceeds the threshold (Yes in S34), the control unit 5 shifts the process to step S35. If the consumption rate of the consumable item acquired in step S33 is less than or equal to the threshold (No in S34), the control unit 5 shifts the process to step S341.

<Step S35>
In step S35, the control unit 5 consumes the consumables in the preparation period, which is calculated based on the consumption rate of the consumables acquired in step S33, and the remaining amount of the consumables acquired in step S32 Determine if it is less than or equal to the amount. Here, the process of step S35 is executed by the first determination processing unit 55 of the control unit 5.

  Here, the control unit 5 determines the consumption amount of the consumables in the preparation period, which is calculated based on the consumption rate of the consumables acquired in step S33. If it is determined that it is the following (Yes in S35), the process proceeds to step S342. In addition, it is determined that the remaining amount of the consumable item acquired in step S32 exceeds the consumption amount of the consumable item in the preparation period calculated based on the consumption rate of the consumable item acquired in step S33. Then (No in S35), the control unit 5 shifts the processing to step S31.

<Step S341>
In step S341, the control unit 5 determines whether the remaining amount of the consumable item acquired in step S32 is equal to or less than the lower limit value. Here, the process of step S341 is executed by the second determination processing unit 56 of the control unit 5.

  Here, when the process of step S24 of the lower limit setting process is performed, the lower limit is a value set in the process. On the other hand, when the process of step S24 of the lower limit setting process is not performed, the lower limit is the second initial value.

  Here, when the control unit 5 determines that the remaining amount of the consumable item acquired in step S32 is less than or equal to the lower limit (Yes in S341), the control unit 5 shifts the process to step S342. Further, when it is determined that the remaining amount of the consumable item acquired in step S32 exceeds the lower limit value (No in S341), the control unit 5 shifts the process to step S31.

<Step S342>
In step S342, the control unit 5 notifies that the order timing of the consumable item has arrived. Here, the process of step S 342 is executed by the notification processing unit 57 of the control unit 5.

  Specifically, the control unit 5 notifies the information processing apparatus 100 communicably connected to the own apparatus that the ordering timing of the consumable item has arrived. Thus, the clerk in charge of processing using the information processing apparatus 100 can arrange for the consumable item to be shipped to the user without waiting for a notification from the user of the image forming apparatus 10. Therefore, the trouble of requesting the person in charge of the paper-work processing in the user of the image forming apparatus 10 to place an order for the consumable item is saved.

[Operation Example of Image Forming Apparatus 10]
Hereinafter, an operation example of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Here, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the transition of the remaining amount of developer in the image forming apparatus 10 when the user A who frequently performs printing uses the image forming apparatus 10. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing transition of the remaining amount of developer in the image forming apparatus 10 when the user B who uses printing less frequently than the user A uses the image forming apparatus 10. Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus 10 used by the user A is referred to as an image forming apparatus 10A. The image forming apparatus 10 used by the user B is referred to as an image forming apparatus 10B. The horizontal axis in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 represents the number of days elapsed from the use start date of the image forming apparatus 10. The vertical axes in FIGS. 6 and 7 represent the remaining amount of developer in the toner container 34A.

  In the following, the initial storage amount of the developer in the toner container 34A is 50 grams. The period from the user ordering the developer (toner container 34A) to the time the developer (toner container 34A) relating to the ordering reaches the user of the image forming apparatus 10 is 7 days, and the preparation period is It will be 10 days. Further, the determination cycle is one day, and the detection cycle is ten days. The target period is a period from the start of use of the image forming apparatus 10. The threshold set to the first initial value is 1.0 gram / day, and the lower limit set to the second initial value is 10 grams. Further, the first coefficient is 2.0, and the second coefficient is 1.2.

[Operation Example of Image Forming Apparatus 10A]
In the image forming apparatus 10A, notification that the order timing of the developer has arrived on the fifteenth day is notified.

  Specifically, in the image forming apparatus 10A, as shown in FIG. 6, there is no rapid increase in the consumption amount of the developer during the 15th elapsed day. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 10A, the threshold value and the lower limit value are not set in the lower limit value setting process executed by the fifteenth day after the number of elapsed days.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 10A, as shown in FIG. 6, the remaining amount of the developer is 20 grams and the consumption rate of the developer is 2.0 grams / day on the fifteenth day. Therefore, in step S34 of the order timing notification process executed on the fifteenth day in the image forming apparatus 10A, the consumption rate of the developer (2.0 g / day) is the threshold (1.0 g / day). Is determined (Yes in step S34). Further, in step S35 of the ordering timing notification process, it is determined that the remaining amount (20 grams) of the developer is equal to or less than the consumption amount (20 grams) of the developer in the preparation period (Yes in step S35). Therefore, the process of step S342 of the order timing notification process is executed to notify that the order timing of the developer has arrived. As a result, on the 22nd day before the 25th day when the remaining amount of developer runs out, the developer relating to the order arrives at the user. Therefore, it is avoided that the remaining amount of developer runs out before the developer is prepared.

[Operation Example of Image Forming Apparatus 10B]
On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 10B, it is informed that the order timing of the developer has arrived on the 350th day after the lapse of days.

  Specifically, in the image forming apparatus 10B, as shown in FIG. 7, the consumption of the developer rapidly increases between the 40th and 50th days after the lapse of days. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 10B, the increase period is detected in the lower limit setting process executed on the 50th day of the elapsed day. For example, the consumption of the developer in the increase period is 8.0 grams. In this case, the lower limit value is set to 9.6 grams, and the threshold value is set to 0.96 grams / day.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 10B, as shown in FIG. 7, there is a sharp increase in the consumption of the developer between the 160th day and the 170th day after the lapse of days. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 10B, the increase period is detected in the lower limit setting process executed on the 170th day of the elapsed day. For example, the consumption of the developer in the increase period is 10 grams. In this case, the lower limit value is set to 12 grams, and the threshold value is set to 1.2 grams / day.

  In the lower limit setting process performed on the 170th day, the amount of developer consumed in the increase period detected in the lower limit setting process and the increase period detected on the 50th day The lower limit value and the threshold value may be set based on the average value of the consumption amount of the developer. Further, in the image forming apparatus 10B, when the consumption amount of the developer in the increase period detected on the 170th day is larger than the consumption amount of the developer in the increase period detected on the 50th day The lower limit setting process may be executed on the 170th day after the lapse of days.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 10B, as shown in FIG. 7, the remaining amount of the developer is 12 grams and the consumption rate of the developer is about 0.11 gram / day after the 350th day. Therefore, in step S34 of the order timing notification process executed on the 350th day after the lapse of days in the image forming apparatus 10B, the consumption rate (0.11 g / day) of the developer is the threshold (1.2 g / day). It is determined that the following is true (No in step S34). In addition, in step S341 of the ordering timing notification process, it is determined that the remaining amount (12 grams) of the developer is less than or equal to the lower limit (12 grams) (Yes in step S342). Therefore, the process of step S342 of the order timing notification process is executed to notify that the order timing of the developer has arrived. As a result, in the image forming apparatus 10 having a small number of normally printed sheets such as the image forming apparatus 10B, the number of printed sheets is temporarily increased rapidly due to sudden circumstances after notification of arrival of the order timing of the developer. Even if (see FIG. 7), it is avoided that the developer runs out.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 10, when the consumption rate of the consumable item exceeds the threshold value, the consumption of the consumable item in the preparation period is calculated based on the consumption rate. Whether or not the timing for ordering the consumable item has arrived is determined based on whether the amount is equal to or less than the amount. Further, in the image forming apparatus 10, when the consumption rate of the consumable item is equal to or less than the threshold value, the timing for ordering the consumable item is determined based on whether the remaining amount of the consumable item is equal to or less than the lower limit value. The presence or absence of is determined. As a result, even if the number of printed sheets in the image forming apparatus 10 suddenly increases due to a sudden situation, it is possible to prevent the remaining amount of the consumables from running out before the consumables are prepared. is there.

1 ADF
Reference Signs List 2 image reading unit 3 image forming unit 4 sheet feeding unit 5 control unit 6 operation display unit 7 communication unit 8 storage unit 10 image forming device 31 photosensitive drum 32 charging roller 33 light scanning device 34 developing device 35 transfer roller 36 cleaning device 37 Fixing device 38 paper discharge tray 51 consumption amount acquisition unit 52 recording processing unit 53 remaining amount acquisition unit 54 speed acquisition unit 55 first determination processing unit 56 second determination processing unit 57 notification processing unit 58 detection processing unit 59 first setting processing unit 60 Second setting processor

Claims (6)

A remaining amount acquisition unit for acquiring the remaining amount of consumables;
A speed acquisition unit that acquires the consumption speed of the consumable item;
When the consumption rate acquired by the speed acquisition unit exceeds a preset threshold, the remaining amount acquired by the remaining amount acquisition unit is calculated in a preset period based on the consumption rate A first determination processing unit that determines presence or absence of an ordering timing of the consumable item based on whether the consumption amount of the consumable item is equal to or less than the consumption amount;
The consumption of the consumable item in the period in which the remaining amount acquired by the remaining amount acquisition unit is calculated based on the consumption rate when the consumption rate acquired by the speed acquisition unit is equal to or less than the threshold A second determination processing unit that determines presence / absence of arrival of the order timing based on whether or not it is less than or equal to a preset lower limit value which is equal to or more than an amount
A notification processing unit configured to notify that effect when it is determined that the order timing has arrived;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The lower limit value is the same as the consumption value of the consumable during the period calculated based on the consumption speed when the value of the consumption speed acquired by the speed acquisition unit is the same as the threshold. is there,
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A consumption acquisition unit for acquiring the consumption of the consumable item in the printing process when the printing process is executed;
A recording processing unit that records the consumption of the consumable item acquired by the consumption acquisition unit;
The speed acquisition unit acquires the consumption speed based on the consumption amount of the consumable item recorded by the recording processing unit.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A detection processing unit that detects an increase period during which the consumption amount of the consumable item rapidly increases based on the consumption amount of the consumable item recorded by the recording processing unit;
A setting processing unit configured to set the lower limit value based on the consumption amount of the consumable item in the increase period detected by the detection processing unit;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, comprising: The notification processing unit notifies that the order timing has arrived to a predetermined information processing apparatus communicably connected to the own apparatus.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A method for informing an order timing of consumables to be executed by an image forming apparatus, comprising:
Obtaining the remaining amount of the consumable item;
Obtaining a consumption rate of the consumable item;
When the acquired consumption rate exceeds a preset threshold value, whether or not the acquired remaining amount is equal to or less than the consumption amount of the consumables in a preset period calculated based on the consumption rate Determining whether the timing for ordering the consumable item has arrived based on
When the acquired consumption rate is equal to or less than the threshold, the acquired remaining amount is equal to or less than a preset lower limit value which is equal to or more than the consumption of the consumable in the period calculated based on the consumption rate. Determining whether or not the order timing has arrived based on whether or not there is any;
Informing of that when it is determined that the order timing has arrived;
A method of informing the order timing of consumables including

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