Apparatus for maintaining an electrophotographic apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for maintaining an electrophotographic apparatus with at least a photosensitive member comprising: a central processing unit (CPU) which comprises a control section; memory means provided detachably for storing a count value for a number of prints; a rewritable non-volatile memory element for storing the number of replacements of said memory means when the count value for said number of prints has reached a value based on which a decision is made whether a service life of said photosensitive member is expired; memory-means replacement for counting means for updating a stored value in said non-volatile memory element and counting an updated value upon each replacement of said memory means; comparing means for comparing a count value of the replacement counting means with a predetermined value indicating a maintenance period of other components than said photosensitive member that need maintenance; and informing means for reporting the need for maintenance of said other components than said photosensitive member when it is judged that a value stored in said non-volatile memory element has reached said predetermined value.

Claim 2

An apparatus for maintaining an electrophotographic apparatus with at least a photosensitive member comprising: a central processing unit (CPU) which comprises a control section; memory means provided detachably for storing a count value for a number of prints; a rewritable non-volatile memory element for storing the number of replacements of said memory means when the count value for said number of prints has reached a value based on which a decision is made whether a service life of said photosensitive member is expired; memory-means replacement for counting means for updating a stored value in said non-volatile memory element and counting an updated value upon each replacement of said memory means; comparing means for comparing a count value of the replacement counting means with a predetermined value indicating a maintenance period of other components than said photosensitive member that need maintenance; and informing means for reporting the need for maintenance of said other components than said photosensitive member when it is judged that a value stored in said non-volatile memory element has reached said predetermined value.

Claim 6

An apparatus for maintaining an electrophotographic apparatus with at least a photosensitive member having a latent image formed thereon based on print data, said latent image being developed by a developer to be a toner image which is then transferred onto a recording medium to form an image thereon, said apparatus comprising: a central processing unit (CPU) which comprises a control section; a read only memory (ROM), connected to said CPU via a bus line and having program data stored in advance; a random access memory (RAM) for providing a print buffer to develop print data by image data; an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) for storing various set values inherent to a printer; first counter means connected to said CPU and to said EEPROM and including of a non-volatile memory element, provided detachably at a time of replacement of said photosensitive member, for counting a number of prints; second counter means including of said non-volatile memory element for updating a count value for said number of prints upon detection of an initial state of said first counter means; informing means, connected to said first counter means, for generating a sound when said counter means counts a count value equal to or greater than a predetermined value; and display means, connected to said CPU, and to said first and second counter means via an I/O port, for displaying a total number of prints according to a key input, based on said count value of said second counter means and said count value for said number of prints of said first counter means at a time said key input has been made.

Claim 7

An apparatus for maintaining an electrophotographic apparatus with at least a photosensitive member having a latent image formed thereon based on print data, said latent image being developed by a developer to be a toner image which is then transferred onto a recording medium to form an image thereon, said apparatus comprising: a central processing unit (CPU) which comprises a control section; a read only memory (ROM), connected to said CPU via a bus line and having program data stored in advance; a random access memory (RAM) for providing a print buffer to develop print data by image data; an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) for storing various set values inherent to a printer; first counter means connected to said CPU and to said EEPROM and including of a non-volatile memory element, provided detachably at a time of replacement of said photosensitive member, for counting a number of prints; second counter means including of said non-volatile memory element for updating a count value for said number of prints upon detection of an initial state of said first counter means; informing means, connected to said first counter means, for generating a sound when said counter means counts a count value equal to or greater than a predetermined value; and display means, connected to said CPU, and to said first and second counter means via an I/O port, for displaying a total number of prints according to a key input, based on said count value of said second counter means and said count value for said number of prints of said first counter means at a time said key input has been made.