Image forming apparatus having message output function

Claim 2

An image forming apparatus comprising: first means for storing image information of an original to be formed on one sheet; second means for storing message information contained in maintenance manuals for the image forming apparatus to be formed on another sheet; means for forming an image corresponding to one of said image information and message information on an image bearing member; and control means for controlling said image information means such that said image information formed on the image bearing member is transferred to the one sheet and said message information formed on the image bearing member is transferred to another sheet, respectively.

Claim 3

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming means includes a photosensitive drum; charging means for charging said photosensitive drum; exposing means for exposing said photosensitive drum charged by said charging means in accordance with the message information, developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said photosensitive drum upon exposure by said exposing means, transfer means for transferring a developing agent image developed by said developing means to a transfer medium, fixing means for fixing the transfer medium on which the developing agent image is transferred by said transfer means, and image processing means for sequentially causing said exposure means to expose said photosensitive drum charged by said charging means, in accordance with the message information converted by said converting means, causing said developing means to develop the latent image, causing said transfer means to transfer the developing agent image, and causing said fixing means to fix the developing agent image on the transfer medium, thereby forming an image.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes means for calculating a difference between a previous message information print count and a present image formation print count, and means for comparing the difference with a predetermined value.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming means further comprises display means for displaying said image information.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said counting a means includes means for counting net image forming count and means for comparing the net image forming count and an integer multiple of a predetermined number and for outputting a message information reading signal when a coincidence is obtained in said comparing means.

Claim 7

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising detecting means for detecting a total amount of use of the image forming means, and wherein said control means include means for reading out the message information from said second means, when the total amount of use of the image forming means is detected to reach a predetermined number.

Claim 8

An image forming apparatus comprising: means for storing message information contained in maintenance manuals; means for forming an image on an image bearing member; first detecting means for detecting the amount of use of the forming means; means for reading the message information from said storing means when the detecting means detects the predetermined amount of use; means for converting the message information read out by said reading means into image information; means for outputting an image of the image information as a visible image in accordance with the image information converted by said converting means; means for receiving image data of a predetermined amount; second detecting means for detecting that the image data is completely output to said image outputting means and thereupon outputting a detection output; control means for controlling said image forming means such that while said detection output is not output from said second detecting means, an image corresponding to said image data is formed on the image bearing member and, when said detection output is output from said second detecting means, another image corresponding to the message information stored in said storing means is formed on the image bearing means; and means for transferring the image corresponding to said image data to a sheet and the other image corresponding to said message information to another sheet, respectively.

Claim 9

An image forming apparatus comprising: means for storing message information contained in maintenance manuals; means for forming an image on an image bearing member; first detecting means for detecting the amount of use of the forming means; means for reading the message information from said storing means when the detecting means detects the predetermined amount of use; means for converting the message information read out by said reading means into image information; means for outputting an image of the image information as a visible image in accordance with the image information converted by said converting means; means for receiving image data of a predetermined amount; second detecting means for detecting that the image data is completely output to said image outputting means and thereupon outputting a detection output; control means for controlling said image forming means such that while said detection output is not output from said second detecting means, an image corresponding to said image data is formed on the image bearing member and, when said detection output is output from said second detecting means, another image corresponding to the message information stored in said storing means is formed on the image bearing means; and means for transferring the image corresponding to said image data to a sheet and the other image corresponding to said message information to another sheet, respectively.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said message information stored in said memory means includes a message for replacing said unit.

Claim 11

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member; means for acting on the image bearing member; a unit having the image bearing member and the acting means, and removably located on a body of the apparatus; means for storing message information contained in a maintenance manual to replace the unit; means for detecting the amount of use of the unit; means for reading the message information from the storing means when the detecting means detects a predetermined amount of use; control means for controlling said acting means such that while said detecting means does not detect the predetermined amount of use, an image corresponding to image data is formed on the image bearing member and, when said detecting means detects the predetermined amount of use, another image corresponding to the message information stored in said storing means is formed on the image bearing means; and means for transferring the image corresponding to said image data to a sheet and the other image corresponding to said message information to another sheet, respectively.

Claim 12

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member; means for acting on the image bearing member; a unit having the image bearing member and the acting means, and removably located on a body of the apparatus; means for storing message information contained in a maintenance manual to replace the unit; means for detecting the amount of use of the unit; means for reading the message information from the storing means when the detecting means detects a predetermined amount of use; control means for controlling said acting means such that while said detecting means does not detect the predetermined amount of use, an image corresponding to image data is formed on the image bearing member and, when said detecting means detects the predetermined amount of use, another image corresponding to the message information stored in said storing means is formed on the image bearing means; and means for transferring the image corresponding to said image data to a sheet and the other image corresponding to said message information to another sheet, respectively.

Claim 13

An image forming apparatus comprising: means for storing message information contained in maintenance manuals; means for forming an image on a photosensitive member; means for detecting the amount of use of the forming means; means for reading the message information from the storing means when the detecting means detects a predetermined amount of use, so as to form the message information on the photosensitive member by the forming means; control means for controlling said image forming means such that while said detecting means does not detect the predetermined use, a first image other than said message information is formed on the photosensitive member and, when said detecting means detects the predetermined use, a second image corresponding to the message information stored in said storing means is formed on the photosensitive member; and means for transferring the first image formed on the photosensitive member to a sheet and the second image corresponding to said message information to another sheet, respectively.

Claim 14

An image forming apparatus comprising: means for storing message information contained in maintenance manuals; means for forming an image on a photosensitive member; means for detecting the amount of use of the forming means; means for reading the message information from the storing means when the detecting means detects a predetermined amount of use, so as to form the message information on the photosensitive member by the forming means; control means for controlling said image forming means such that while said detecting means does not detect the predetermined use, a first image other than said message information is formed on the photosensitive member and, when said detecting means detects the predetermined use, a second image corresponding to the message information stored in said storing means is formed on the photosensitive member; and means for transferring the first image formed on the photosensitive member to a sheet and the second image corresponding to said message information to another sheet, respectively.