JP5287219B2 - Consumables replacement time prediction system and management device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a consumable item replacement time prediction system.

  Image forming apparatuses such as printing apparatuses that perform printing processes and facsimile machines that perform facsimile transmission / reception are equipped with consumables represented by printing materials used for these processes and transfer apparatuses that transfer the printing materials. Consumables need to be replaced in a timely manner depending on their usage conditions. When the optimal replacement period has passed, processing will stop in addition to quality deterioration due to degradation of image quality, functional deterioration, etc. End up.

  For this reason, techniques for predicting the optimum replacement time for consumables have been disclosed.

  For example, the usage amount of consumables and replacement parts is calculated and detected using information such as the number of revolutions, usage frequency, and wear amount of the consumables and replacement parts, and the difference from these information that needs replacement The optimal replacement period is predicted.

  In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to obtain information on the devices arranged at the customer and to perform customer support using the usage amount information and quality information of the devices.

In this patent document 1, a device arranged at a customer collects and stores usage information of the device and quality information indicating the quality of the device, and uses the customer information as it is or after being processed. Deliver to the system. And this customer information utilization system accesses the memory | storage means of the customer support center 11, acquires the usage-amount information and quality information which are memorize | stored in this memory | storage means arbitrarily, and is based on this usage-amount information and quality information The customer is supported based on the usage status of the device.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-250008

  The present invention provides a consumable item replacement time prediction system that can predict the replacement time according to the use state of consumables and the like in an image forming device equipped with a measuring instrument even in an image forming apparatus that does not include the measuring instrument. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is equipped with a measuring instrument for measuring the usage state of consumables, and an image forming apparatus for measuring the usage state of the consumables by image forming processing with the measuring instrument, A management device that manages a usage state of the consumables, and the image forming apparatus creates usage history information based on a usage state of the consumables measured by the measuring instrument before the replacement of the consumables A history information generating unit; and a transmitting unit that transmits the usage history information generated by the usage history generating unit to the management device, wherein the management device receives the usage history information transmitted by the transmission unit. Receiving means; prediction formula creating means for creating a prediction formula for predicting the replacement timing of the consumable item based on the reason for exchanging the consumable item using the usage history information received by the receiving unit; Using a prediction formula created by the formula creation means, and a replacement time prediction means for predicting the replacement time of the consumable from consumables usage history of the instrument equipped with no other image forming apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the use history information creating means creates the use history information for each of the consumables, and the prediction formula creating means is received by the receiving means. The prediction formula for each consumable is created based on the use history information, and the replacement time prediction means predicts the replacement time for each consumable using the prediction formula for each consumable.

  The invention of claim 3 is the invention of claim 1 or 2, wherein the management device further comprises storage means for storing the usage history information received by the receiving means, and the prediction formula creating means comprises: When the usage history information is received by the receiving means, the prediction formula is created using other usage history information stored in the storage means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the management apparatus notifies the other image forming apparatus of the replacement time of the consumables predicted by the replacement time prediction means. The other image forming apparatus further includes a notification unit that notifies the replacement time notified by the replacement time notification unit.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, even in an image forming apparatus not equipped with a measuring instrument, the replacement time corresponding to the use state of consumables in the image forming apparatus equipped with the measuring instrument is not provided with this configuration. There is an effect that the prediction can be made with less cost.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to predict the replacement time for each consumable used in the image forming apparatus.

  Further, according to the third aspect, there is an effect that the replacement time of the consumables can be predicted with higher accuracy than in the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, even in an image forming apparatus not equipped with a measuring instrument, it is possible to notify the user of the predicted replacement time.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a consumable item replacement time prediction system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an example of a system configuration diagram configured by applying the consumable item replacement time prediction system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the present consumable item replacement time prediction system uses a printing material and a component (hereinafter referred to as “consumable item”) used in the image forming process of the image forming apparatus that performs the image forming process, a wear amount, and the like. Sensor-mounted image forming apparatuses (10-1, 10-2,... 10-n, 10-m (hereinafter collectively referred to as “sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10”)), A sensor non-mounting image forming apparatus (11-1, 11-2,... 11-n, 11-m (hereinafter collectively referred to as “sensor non-mounting image forming apparatus 11”)) that does not include the sensor. In addition, the image forming apparatus 11 further includes a consumable information management server 20 that performs a process of predicting the optimum replacement time for consumables equipped in the non-sensor-equipped image forming apparatus 11.

  In the above-described sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10 and non-sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 11, consumables represented by a photoreceptor (drum) used for image forming processing, printing materials such as ink and toner, paper transport rollers, transfer belts, and the like. And using these consumables, image forming processing of image data is performed.

  The sensor-equipped image forming apparatus 10 detects the consumption amount, wear amount, and the like of the consumables for each image forming process, and shows the usage history of the consumables based on the use amount, wear amount, etc. detected by the sensor. Collect “consumable use history information”.

  For example, when the consumable is a photoconductor, the amount of use and the amount of wear detected by this sensor are detected by detecting the thickness of the surface thin film of the photoconductor using a thickness detection sensor. If the consumable is toner, a remaining amount monitoring sensor is used to detect the amount of toner used based on the remaining amount of toner.

  Sensors represented by these are consumables in the warm-up process performed in the preparation stage of the image forming process and the post-process performed after the image forming process in addition to the usage amount and the wear amount based on the image forming process. It also detects the usage amount, wear amount, etc.

  In addition, this consumable usage history information is displayed when the sensor detects that the remaining amount of consumables has run out, when the sensor detects that the remaining amount of consumables has reached the specified level, or when consumables are replaced. The usage history of each consumable item up to that point is shown.

  In addition to the consumable use history information, the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10 is configured with printing conditions such as the number of printed pages per page, such as printing date and time, number of printed sheets, paper size, black and white / color, and the like. Record “print history information”.

  In this sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10, the print history information and the consumable use history information are stored in association with each other, and are sent to the consumable information management server 20 periodically or when the predetermined state as described above is reached. And send. Of course, the configuration may be such that when the data size of the recorded print history information and consumable use history information exceeds a predetermined data size, it is sequentially transmitted to the consumable information management server 20.

  On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 11 not equipped with the sensor tabulates and records “print history information” in the image forming apparatus 11 not equipped with the sensor. This print history information is composed of the printing date and time in the image forming process, the number of times of printing, printing conditions such as paper size and black / white / color, and the like.

  The print history information recorded by the non-sensor-equipped image forming apparatus 11 is transmitted to the consumable information management server 20 after a predetermined period. In addition, the configuration may be such that the data size of the recorded print history information is transmitted to the consumable information management server 20 when the data size exceeds a predetermined data size.

  When predetermined information is transmitted from the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10 and the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 11 as described above, the consumable information management server 20 receives these information and associates them with the image forming apparatus that is the transmission source. Record.

  When the consumable information management server 20 receives print history information and consumable use history information from the sensor-equipped image forming apparatus 10, the consumable use time information is used to replace the consumable for each consumable. Create a “prediction formula” to predict

  In addition to the calculation formula that predicts the time until replacement is necessary due to the use of each consumable, it can be replaced before the end of the service life due to a malfunction of each consumable. There is an arithmetic expression that predicts the replacement time when necessary.

  This prediction formula adds an arbitrary constant by adding the information indicating the operating state (number of operations, operating rate, etc.) of the consumables multiplied by the regression coefficient for each consumable according to each image forming device. It is expressed by the multiple regression equation. An example of this prediction formula will be described below.

  The prediction formula is generated every time the consumable information management server 20 receives the consumable use history information and the print history information from the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10 and updates the original prediction formula. Alternatively, the prediction formula may be created and updated by receiving consumable use history information and print history information having a certain data size or larger.

  That is, the consumable information management server 20 creates a prediction formula corresponding to the use state, and stores this prediction formula.

  On the other hand, when the consumable information management server 20 receives the print history information from the image forming apparatus 11 not equipped with the sensor, that is, the use history information does not include information on the use amount or the wear amount based on the sensor. When it is identified that the print history information is transmitted from the sensor-unmounted image forming apparatus 11, the prediction formula created by receiving the consumable use history information and the print history information from the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10 is used. Then, a prediction process is performed to predict the replacement time for each consumable of the image forming apparatus 11 with no sensor based on the print history information.

  When the replacement time is predicted for each consumable by the prediction process and the replacement time is determined, the information on the replacement time is used as the non-sensor-equipped image that is the source of the print history information used to predict the replacement time information. In addition to being sent to the forming apparatus 11, it is sent to a computer such as a manager designated in advance. Needless to say, the consumable information management server 20 may store the replacement time information in association with the non-sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 11 of the transmission source.

  When the information on the replacement time is transmitted to the non-sensor-equipped image forming apparatus 11, the non-sensor-equipped image forming apparatus 11 displays information to that effect by managing and controlling the information on the replacement time. Announces using a display or alert sound. Further, when the information on the replacement time is stored in the consumable information management server 20, the information on the replacement time is transmitted to the corresponding non-sensor-equipped image forming apparatus 11 before the replacement time is reached, so that the image formation without the sensor is performed. The apparatus 11 notifies by the above method.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10. The sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10 includes a detection unit 101, a counting unit 102, a history information totaling unit 103, a storage unit 104, and transmission / reception. A control unit 105 and an image formation processing unit 106 are provided.

  The image formation processing unit 106 performs image formation processing such as printout using the above-described consumables.

  The detection unit 101 is a sensor that detects the remaining amount of consumables such as a photoconductor and ink, the amount of wear, and the like. The counting unit 102 is a counter that counts the number of times the consumables are used. The counting unit 102 detects and counts the usage state of the consumables used in the image forming processing unit 106, and sends information such as the remaining amount of the consumables detected or counted to the history information totaling unit 103.

  The history information totaling unit 103 totals the consumable use history information indicating the consumable use history based on the information received from the detection unit 101 and the counting unit 102.

  Further, the history information totaling unit 103 receives the printing history from the image forming processing unit 106 by receiving the printing conditions such as the paper size and black / white / color used for the image forming processing of the image forming processing unit 106, the number of printed sheets, and the like. Aggregate as information. The collected consumable use history information and printing history information are stored in the storage unit 104, which is a database, and the history information totaling unit 103 notifies the transmission / reception control unit 105 that the summation of these information has been completed.

  When the transmission / reception control unit 105 is notified of completion of consumable use history information and print history information from the history information totaling unit 103, the consumable item use history information and print history information stored in the storage unit 104 are stored in the consumable information management. Send to server 20.

  The transmission / reception control unit 105 stores consumable use history information and print information in the consumable information management server 20 when the storage unit 104 stores consumable use history information and print history information of a certain data size. The configuration may be such that history information is transmitted.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the image forming apparatus 11 not equipped with a sensor. The image forming apparatus 11 not equipped with a sensor includes a storage unit 104, a transmission / reception control unit 105, an image forming unit 106, and a consumable replacement. The time management control unit 107 and the history information totaling unit 108 are provided.

  The image formation processing unit 106 performs image formation processing such as printout using the above-described consumables.

  When image forming processing is performed by the image forming processing unit 106, the printing history information totaling unit 108 totals printing conditions such as printing date / time, number of times of printing, paper size, monochrome / color, and the like as printing history information. . The collected print history information is stored in the storage unit 104.

  Then, the print history information totaling unit 108 notifies that the storage unit 104 has stored the print history information. Further, the print history information totaling unit 108 detects that the consumables used for the image forming processing in the image forming processing unit 106 have been replaced, and notifies the transmission / reception control unit 105 to that effect.

  The transmission / reception control unit 105 receives from the print history information totaling unit 108 that the print history information has been stored in the storage unit 104, and receives from the print history information totaling unit 108 that consumables have been replaced.

  Upon receipt of the replacement of the consumable item, the transmission / reception control unit 105 acquires the print history information stored in the storage unit 104 and transmits it to the consumable information management server 20. At this time, the print history information stored in the storage unit 104 may be deleted.

  Accordingly, the consumable information management server 20 performs a process of predicting the replacement time for each consumable using the prediction formula created by the process as described above.

  When the consumable information management server 20 predicts the replacement time for each consumable, the transmission / reception control unit 105 receives the prediction result of the replacement time for each consumable. The transmission / reception control unit 105 that has received the prediction result of the consumable replacement time notifies the consumable replacement time management control unit 107 of this information, and performs management control of the replacement time for each consumable.

  In other words, the consumable item replacement time management control unit 107 monitors that the expendable item replacement time is based on the predicted result of the consumable item replacement time, and measures the consumable item replacement time by measuring the replacement time. The time is notified by displaying it on a display (not shown).

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the consumable information management server 20. The consumable information management server 20 includes an information analysis unit 201, a history information management unit 202, a prediction formula creation unit 203, and a prediction formula. A registration unit 205, a prediction formula storage unit 206, a prediction formula search unit 207, a prediction processing unit 208, and a transmission control unit 209 are provided.

  When the consumable management server 200 receives the print history information and the consumable use history information from the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10 and the print history information from the non-sensor-equipped image forming apparatus 11, the information analysis unit 201 receives these information. Analyze information or source.

  When print history information and consumable use history information are received from the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10 by this analysis, the received print history information and consumable use history information are stored in the history information management unit 202, and consumables are also stored. A usage history information reception notification is sent to the prediction formula creation unit 203.

  On the other hand, when print history information is received from the image forming apparatus 11 without a sensor, the received print history information is stored in the history information management unit 202 and sent to the prediction formula search unit 207.

  The history information management unit 202 manages print history information and consumable use history information received from the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10, and manages print history information received from the non-sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 11.

  In the prediction formula creation unit 203, when a reception notification of consumable use history information is sent from the information analysis unit 201, the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10 that is the transmission source of the consumable use history information managed by the history information management unit 202. The consumable use history information for each consumable is acquired, and a prediction formula for predicting the replacement time of the consumable is created.

  The prediction expression at this time is an arithmetic expression for predicting the replacement time of each consumable used for the image forming process.

  For example, when the consumable is a photoconductor, the replacement time is predicted to be the replacement time when the thickness of the photosensitive film applied to the surface of the photoconductor is equal to or less than a predetermined thickness.

  The prediction formula in this case is as follows.

  First, using the consumable use history information received from the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10, a graph as shown in FIG.

  Next, the film thickness of the surface of the photoconductor, which is a consumable item, is calculated by the following formula (Formula 1).

Photoreceptor film thickness (X) = AC charging cycle number × (a1) + cycle up number × (a2) + monochrome speed printing number × (a3) + monochrome printing number × (a4) + color printing number × (a5 ) + Belt setup times × (a6) + monochrome image setup times × (a7) + color image setup times × (a8) + cleaning member setup times × (a9) + transfer roller setup times × (a10) + b. Formula 1)
At this time, a1, a2,..., A10 are regression coefficients, b is a constant, and is variable depending on the mounted photoconductor.

  Using the photoreceptor film thickness (X) thus calculated, the wear amount is calculated by the following equation (Equation 2).

Abrasion amount (Z) = photosensitive member film thickness (Y) -photoconductor film thickness (X) in an unused state (Formula 2)
The wear rate (S) of the photosensitive member film thickness is calculated by the following equation (Equation 3) that divides the wear amount calculated by (Equation 2) by the elapsed time from the unused state of the photosensitive member.

Photoconductor film thickness wear rate (S) = Wear amount (Z) / Elapsed time from unused state (T) (Equation 3)
When the wear rate (S) of the photoreceptor film thickness is calculated in this way, a graph (as an example, the graph shown in FIG. 7) is created in which the wear rate (S) of the photoreceptor film thickness is a change rate. To do.

  Then, an elapsed time from the remaining amount of the consumable item shown in the consumable item usage history information until the remaining amount that needs to be replaced is specified.

  Based on such a prediction formula, it is determined that it is the time to replace the photoconductor by the calculated time.

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing the “elapsed time” on the horizontal axis and “photosensitive film thickness” on the vertical axis.

  When the elapsed time is “0 (zero)”, that is, the photoconductor thickness before the start of use of the photoconductor is “y1”, and the photoconductor when it is determined that the photoconductor needs to be replaced It shows that the film thickness is “y2”.

  In other words, the photoconductor replacement time is the elapsed time when the film thickness of the photosensitive film reaches “y2”.

  The “AC charging cycle number” used in (Equation 1) for calculating the photosensitive film thickness (X) is the number of rotations for charging the surface of the photosensitive member to a predetermined potential. The “number of times” is the number of times that the cycle up (preparation processing for rotating the photoconductor for a predetermined time and starting image processing before starting the image forming processing from the standby state) is executed. The “monochrome printing number” indicates the number of monochrome images formed in monochrome, and the “color printing number” indicates the number of color images formed in color. Further, “belt setup frequency” indicates the number of times the edge of the intermediate transfer belt is detected, and “monochrome image setup frequency” indicates the number of times monochrome image processing has been performed, and “color image setup frequency”. Indicates the number of times color image processing has been performed.

  Furthermore, the “cleaning member set-up count” indicates the number of times of performing the process of adhering the toner in a belt shape to the photoconductor in order to prevent the glee device device from performing the process of cleaning the photoconductor. The “transfer roller setup count” indicates the number of times the transfer roller cleaning process has been performed.

  When the prediction formula is created by the prediction formula creation unit 203 in this way, the created prediction formula is sent to the prediction formula registration unit 205. When receiving the prediction formula, the prediction formula registration unit 205 registers it in the prediction formula storage unit 206 in association with each consumable as a prediction formula for each consumable.

  The prediction formula for each consumable stored in the prediction formula storage unit 206 is created and updated each time the consumable information management server 20 receives the consumable use history information and the print history information from the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10. The

  When the print history information is received from the image forming apparatus 11 with no sensor mounted in the state where the prediction formula for each consumable is stored in the prediction formula storage unit 206 in this way, the prediction formula search unit 207 uses the print history information as a basis. In addition, the prediction formula storage unit 206 is searched for a prediction formula for performing processing for predicting the replacement time of each consumable.

  The prediction formula search unit 207 searches for a prediction formula corresponding to the consumable, and sends the searched prediction formula of each consumable to the prediction formula processing unit 208 together with the print history information.

  When receiving the prediction formula and the print history information from the prediction formula search unit 207, the prediction formula processing unit 208 calculates the replacement period of the consumable by applying the print history information to the prediction formula. Information on the calculated replacement time is sent to the transmission control unit 209.

  When the transmission control unit 209 receives the replacement time information, the transmission control unit 209 transmits the replacement time information to the non-sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 11 that is the transmission source of the print history information. Of course, the state stored in the consumable information management server 20 can also be used.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed in the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus of the consumable item replacement time prediction system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  When the image forming process is performed and the consumable is used, the process is started, and the state of the consumable is detected by a sensor or a counter (501). Next, consumables that indicate the number of prints, monochrome / color, paper size, etc. in the image forming process, print history information such as the number of prints, print date and time, and the amount of consumption and wear of consumables detected by sensors and counters. Use history information is created (502).

  Then, the print history information and the consumable use history information are registered (503).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether the life-end state in which the consumables cannot be used or the predetermined remaining amount specified in advance is reached due to the detected use amount or wear amount of the consumables (504). (YES in 504), the registered print history information and consumable use history information are acquired (505), and the print history information and consumable use history information are transmitted to the consumable information management server. (506).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed by the consumable information management server of the consumable replacement time prediction system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  When print history information and consumable use history information is received from the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10 or print history information is received from the non-sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 11, processing is started, and the transmission source that transmitted these information is identified. (601).

  It is determined whether or not the identified image forming apparatus is a device equipped with a sensor that detects the amount of consumption or wear of the consumable (602), and print history information and consumable use from the image forming apparatus equipped with the sensor. If the history information is received (YES in 602), the received print history information and consumable use history information are registered (603).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the registration of the print history information and the consumable use history information, or whether the registered print history information and consumable use history information have a data size designated in advance (604). .

  If it is determined that either state is reached (YES in 604), the registered print history information and consumable use history information are acquired (605). By setting the fixed time at this time to “0 (zero)”, it indicates that predetermined processing is performed every time printing history information and consumable use history information are registered.

  Subsequently, when the print history information and the consumable use history information are acquired, a prediction formula for predicting the replacement time for each consumable is created based on the print history information and the consumable use history information (606).

  Then, the created prediction formula is stored (607).

  On the other hand, when print history information is received from an image forming apparatus not equipped with a sensor (NO in 602), this print history information is applied to a prediction formula to predict the replacement time of consumables (608).

  The prediction result predicted by the prediction process is transmitted to the transmission source of the print history information (609).

  Note that the prediction formula for the same consumable item may vary depending on the type (model) and model of the image forming apparatus.

  Therefore, the consumable information management server 20 creates a prediction formula for each type of image forming apparatus, and stores a prediction formula for each type of image forming processing apparatus, thereby different prediction formulas for each type of image forming processing apparatus. May be used to predict the replacement time of consumables.

  In this case, the following method can be considered.

  When the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10 transmits the print history information and the consumable use history information to the consumable information management server 20, the consumables are transmitted together with information on the type of the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10, for example. The information management server 20 is made to recognize the type of the sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10. The consumable information management server 20 creates and stores a prediction formula for each type of image forming apparatus based on the recognized type of sensor-mounted image forming apparatus 10.

  On the other hand, when the non-sensor-equipped image forming apparatus 11 transmits the print history information to the consumable information management server 20, the consumable information management is performed by transmitting information on the type of the non-sensor-equipped image forming apparatus 11 together. The server 20 is made to recognize the type of the image forming apparatus 11 without the sensor.

  Then, the consumable information management server 20 predicts the replacement time of consumables using the corresponding prediction formula based on the recognized type of the image forming apparatus 11 not equipped with the sensor.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not changing the gist thereof.

An example of the system block diagram comprised by applying the consumable goods exchange time prediction system in embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a sensor-mounted image forming apparatus that constitutes a consumable item replacement time prediction system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of an image forming apparatus not equipped with a sensor that constitutes a consumables replacement time prediction system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the consumable goods information management server which comprises the consumable goods exchange time prediction system in embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed with the sensor mounting image forming apparatus of the consumable goods exchange time prediction system in embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed with the consumable goods information management server of the consumable goods exchange time prediction system in embodiment of this invention. The graph which shows the decreasing rate of the film thickness based on a use period.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus with a sensor 11 Image forming apparatus with no sensor 20 Consumables information management server 101 Detection part (sensor)
102 Counting unit (counter)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 103 History information total part 104 Storage part 105 Transmission / reception control part 106 Image formation process part 107 Consumables replacement time management control part 201 Information analysis part 202 History information management part 203 Prediction type creation part 205 Prediction type registration part 206 Prediction type storage part 207 Prediction formula search unit 208 Prediction processing unit 209 Transmission control unit

Claims (5)

A first image forming apparatus equipped with a measuring instrument for measuring a use state including a consumption amount or wear amount of a consumable by image forming processing ;
A management device for managing the state of use of the consumables,
The first image forming apparatus includes:
Usage history information creation means for creating usage history information indicating a usage history of a consumable based on the usage or wear amount of the consumable from the usage state of the consumable measured by the measuring instrument before the replacement of the consumable When,
Print history information creating means for creating print history information indicating a print history;
And transmitting means for transmitting the print history information created by the use history information and the print history information creating means created by the use footwear information creating means to the management device,
The management device
Receiving means for receiving the usage history information and the printing history information transmitted by the transmitting means;
History information management means for managing the usage history information and the printing history information received by the receiving means in association with each other;
A prediction expression creation means using said use history information received, to create a prediction equation for predicting the time to replace rather based on exchange grounds of the consumable by the receiving means,
Print history information acquired from a second image forming apparatus not equipped with the measuring instrument is added to the prediction formula created from the use history information of the first image forming apparatus managed by the history information management means. A consumable item replacement time prediction system comprising: a replacement time prediction unit that applies and predicts a consumable replacement time for the second image forming apparatus . The first image forming apparatus includes:
Comprising a plurality of the consumables,
The usage history information creating means includes:
Create the usage history information for each consumable,
The prediction formula creating means includes:
Create the prediction formula for each consumable based on the usage history information received by the receiving means,
The replacement time predicting means is:
The consumable item replacement time prediction system according to claim 1, wherein a replacement time is predicted for each consumable item using a prediction formula for each consumable item. The management device
Storage means for storing the usage history information received by the receiving means;
The prediction formula creating means includes:
3. The consumable item replacement time prediction system according to claim 1, wherein when the usage history information is received by the receiving unit, the prediction formula is created also using other usage history information stored in the storage unit. The management device
A replacement time notification means for notifying the second image forming apparatus of the replacement time of the consumables predicted by the replacement time prediction means;
The second image forming apparatus includes:
The consumable item replacement time prediction system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising notification means for notifying the replacement time notified by the replacement time notification means.   A first image forming apparatus equipped with a measuring instrument for measuring a use state including a consumption amount or wear amount of a consumable by image forming processing;
  A second image forming apparatus not equipped with the measuring instrument;
  Comprising a consumables replacement time prediction system including:
  The management device
  The usage history of the consumables created based on the usage state transmitted from the first image forming apparatus and including the amount of consumption or wear of the consumables measured by the measuring instrument before the replacement of the consumables. Receiving means for receiving the usage history information shown, the first printing history information showing the printing history, and the second printing history information transmitted from the second image forming apparatus;
  History information management means for managing the usage history information and the printing history information received by the receiving means in association with each other;
  Using the use history information received by the receiving means, a prediction formula creating means for creating a prediction formula for predicting a replacement time based on the reason for exchanging the consumables;
  Applying the print history information acquired from the second image forming apparatus to the prediction formula created from the use history information of the first image forming apparatus managed by the history information management unit, Replacement time predicting means for predicting the replacement time of consumables of the image forming apparatus 2;
  A management device.

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