US5778279A — Image forming apparatus estimating a consumable l…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 91 words

An image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer, and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting factors relating to degree of consumption of a consumable article; and decision means for estimating the degree of consumption of the consumable article based on detected values of the detection means and then deciding whether the consumable article has reached an end of life, wherein the decision means utilizes a fuzzy inference method.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 91 words

An image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer, and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting factors relating to degree of consumption of a consumable article; and decision means for estimating the degree of consumption of the consumable article based on detected values of the detection means and then deciding whether the consumable article has reached an end of life, wherein the decision means utilizes a fuzzy inference method.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 125 words

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuzzy inference method expresses relationships between detected values of the detection means and degree of consumption of the consumable article by membership functions and control rules, said control rules having antecedent conditional terms described with detected values of the detection means and having consequent conditional terms described with estimates of a physical property value, and the fuzzy inference method gives the detected values of the detection means to the antecedent conditional terms as input values so as to yield a fuzzy output value of the consequent conditional terms, whereby the decision means decides, with the resulting output value taken as the degree of consumption, whether the consumable article has reached an end of life.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 92 words

An image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer, and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting factors relating to degree of consumption of a consumable article; and decision means for estimating the degree of consumption of the consumable article based on detected values of the detection means and then deciding whether the consumable article has reached an end of life, wherein the decision means executes learning of a neural network.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 92 words

An image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer, and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting factors relating to degree of consumption of a consumable article; and decision means for estimating the degree of consumption of the consumable article based on detected values of the detection means and then deciding whether the consumable article has reached an end of life, wherein the decision means executes learning of a neural network.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 95 words

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the learning of a neural network comprises detected values of the detection means taken as input values and a value indicating preset degree of consumption of the consumable article taken as a teacher value, and after the learning, the decision means determines the degree of consumption by using the neural network with the detected values of the detection means given as input values, whereby the decision means decides, based on the resulting degree of consumption, whether the consumable article has reached an end of life.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 57 words

An image forming apparatus as claimed in either of claims 1 or 3, wherein the detection means detects at least one of cumulative rotation time of the photoconductor and cumulative drive time of a developing unit, and further detects at least one of deposition amount of toner onto the photoconductor, toner concentration in the developer and humidity.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 52 words

An image forming apparatus as claimed in either of claims 1 or 3, further comprising warning means for, when the decision means has decided that the consumable article has reached an end of life, displaying a warning on an operation panel or issuing a warning to an external through a telephone line.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 91 words

An image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer, and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting factors which cause a photoconductive layer of the photoconductor to be worn; and decision means for estimating the wear amount of the photoconductive layer based on detected values of the detection means and then deciding whether the photoconductor has reached an end of life, wherein the decision means utilizes a fuzzy inference method.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 91 words

An image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer, and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting factors which cause a photoconductive layer of the photoconductor to be worn; and decision means for estimating the wear amount of the photoconductive layer based on detected values of the detection means and then deciding whether the photoconductor has reached an end of life, wherein the decision means utilizes a fuzzy inference method.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 123 words

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fuzzy inference method expresses relationships between detected values of the detection means and the wear amount of the photoconductive layer by membership functions and control rules, said control rules having antecedent conditional terms described with detected values of the detection means and having consequent conditional terms described with estimates of a physical property value, and the fuzzy inference method gives the detected values of the detection means to the antecedent conditional terms as input values so as to yield a fuzzy output value of the consequent conditional terms, whereby the decision means decides, with the resulting output value taken as the wear amount whether the photoconductor has reached an end of life.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 92 words

An image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer, and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting factors which cause a photoconductive layer of the photoconductor to be worn; and decision means for estimating the wear amount of the photoconductive layer based on detected values of the detection means and then deciding whether the photoconductor has reached an end of life, wherein the decision means executes learning of a neural network.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 92 words

An image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer, and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting factors which cause a photoconductive layer of the photoconductor to be worn; and decision means for estimating the wear amount of the photoconductive layer based on detected values of the detection means and then deciding whether the photoconductor has reached an end of life, wherein the decision means executes learning of a neural network.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 89 words

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the learning of a neural network comprises detected values of the detection means taken as input values and a preset wear amount of the photoconductive layer taken as a teacher value, and after the learning, the decision means determines the wear amount by using the neural network with the detected values of the detection means given as input values, whereby the decision means decides, based on the resulting wear amount, whether the photoconductor has reached an end of life.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 57 words

An image forming apparatus as claimed in either of claims 7 or 9, wherein the detection means detects at least one of cumulative rotation time of the photoconductor and cumulative drive time of a developing unit, and further detects at least one of deposition amount of toner onto the photoconductor, toner concentration in the developer and humidity.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 51 words

An image forming apparatus as claimed in either of claims 7 or 9, further comprising warning means for, when the decision means has decided that the photoconductor has reached an end of life, displaying a warning on an operation panel or issuing a warning to an external through a telephone line.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 86 words

An image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer, and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting factors which cause carrier contained in the developer to deteriorate; and decision means for estimating a carrier spent value based on detected values of the detection means and then deciding whether the developer has reached an end of life, wherein the decision means utilizes a fuzzy inference method.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 86 words

An image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer, and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting factors which cause carrier contained in the developer to deteriorate; and decision means for estimating a carrier spent value based on detected values of the detection means and then deciding whether the developer has reached an end of life, wherein the decision means utilizes a fuzzy inference method.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 121 words

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fuzzy inference method expresses relationships between detected values of the detection means and the carrier spent value by membership functions and control rules, said control rules having antecedent conditional terms described with detected values of the detection means and having consequent conditional terms described with estimates of a physical property value, and the fuzzy inference method gives the detected values of the detection means to the antecedent conditional terms as input values so as to yield a fuzzy output value of the consequent conditional terms, whereby the decision means decides, with the resulting output value taken as the carrier spent value, whether the developer has reached an end of life.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 87 words

An image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer, and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting factors which cause carrier contained in the developer to deteriorate; and decision means for estimating a carrier spent value based on detected values of the detection means and then deciding whether the developer has reached an end of life, wherein the decision means executes learning of a neural network.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 87 words

An image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer, and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting factors which cause carrier contained in the developer to deteriorate; and decision means for estimating a carrier spent value based on detected values of the detection means and then deciding whether the developer has reached an end of life, wherein the decision means executes learning of a neural network.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 88 words

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the learning of a neural network comprises detected values of the detection means taken as input values and a preset carrier spent value taken as a teacher value, and after the learning, the decision means determines the carrier spent value by using the neural network with the detected values of the detection means given as input values, whereby the decision means decides, based on the resulting carrier spent value, whether the developer has reached an end of life.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 57 words

An image forming apparatus as claimed in either of claims 13 or 15, wherein the detection means detects at least one of cumulative rotation time of the photoconductor and cumulative drive time of a developing unit, and further detects at least one of deposition amount of toner onto the photoconductor, toner concentration in the developer and humidity.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 51 words

An image forming apparatus as claimed in either of claims 13 or 15, further comprising warning means for, when the decision means has decided that the developer has reached an end of life, displaying a warning on an operation panel or issuing a warning to an external through a telephone line.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 107 words

A method of deciding whether a consumable article has reached an end of life in an image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the method comprising: a first step of detecting factors relating to degree of consumption of a consumable article; and a second step of estimating the degree of consumption of the consumable article based on detected values obtained in the first step and then deciding whether the consumable article has reached an end of life, wherein the second step utilizes a fuzzy inference method.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 107 words

A method of deciding whether a consumable article has reached an end of life in an image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the method comprising: a first step of detecting factors relating to degree of consumption of a consumable article; and a second step of estimating the degree of consumption of the consumable article based on detected values obtained in the first step and then deciding whether the consumable article has reached an end of life, wherein the second step utilizes a fuzzy inference method.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 118 words

A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the fuzzy inference method expresses relationships between values of the factors and degree of consumption of the consumable article by membership functions and control rules, said control rules having antecedent conditional terms described with values of the factors and having consequent conditional terms described with estimates of a physical property value, and the fuzzy inference method gives the detected values obtained in the first step to the antecedent conditional terms as input values so as to yield a fuzzy output value of the consequent conditional terms, whereby with the resulting output value taken as the degree of consumption, whether the consumable article has reached an end of life is decided.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 108 words

A method of deciding whether a consumable article has reached an end of life in an image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the method comprising: a first step of detecting factors relating to degree of consumption of a consumable article; and a second step of estimating the degree of consumption of the consumable article based on detected values obtained in the first step and then deciding whether the consumable article has reached an end of life, wherein the second step involves learning of a neural network.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 108 words

A method of deciding whether a consumable article has reached an end of life in an image forming apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor into a toner image with a developer and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet, the method comprising: a first step of detecting factors relating to degree of consumption of a consumable article; and a second step of estimating the degree of consumption of the consumable article based on detected values obtained in the first step and then deciding whether the consumable article has reached an end of life, wherein the second step involves learning of a neural network.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 88 words

A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the learning of a neural network is executed with values of the factors taken as input values and values indicating preset degree of consumption of the consumable article taken as teacher values, and after the learning, the degree of consumption is determined by using the neural network with the detected values obtained in the first step given as input values, whereby based on the resulting degree of consumption, whether the consumable article has reached an end of life is decided.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 69 words

A method as claimed in either of claims 19 or 21, wherein: the first step is a step of detecting factors which cause a photoconductive layer of the photoconductor to be worn; and the second step is a step of estimating the wear amount of the photoconductive layer based on detected values obtained in the first step and then deciding whether the photoconductor has reached an end of life.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 64 words

A method as claimed in either of claims 19 or 21, wherein: the first step is a step of detecting factors which cause carrier contained in the developer to deteriorate; and the second step is a step of estimating a carrier spent value based on detected values obtained in the first step and then deciding whether the developer has reached an end of life.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 65 words

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a detector which detects factors relating to degree of consumption of a consumable article used in the image forming apparatus; and a processing unit which estimates the degree of consumption of the consumable article based on detected values of the detector and then obtains the life of the consumable article, wherein the processing unit utilizes a fuzzy inference method.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 65 words

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a detector which detects factors relating to degree of consumption of a consumable article used in the image forming apparatus; and a processing unit which estimates the degree of consumption of the consumable article based on detected values of the detector and then obtains the life of the consumable article, wherein the processing unit utilizes a fuzzy inference method.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 66 words

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a detector which detects factors relating to degree of consumption of a consumable article used in the image forming apparatus; and a processing unit which estimates the degree of consumption of the consumable article based on detected values of the detector and then obtains the life of the consumable article, wherein the processing unit executes learning of a neural network.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 66 words

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a detector which detects factors relating to degree of consumption of a consumable article used in the image forming apparatus; and a processing unit which estimates the degree of consumption of the consumable article based on detected values of the detector and then obtains the life of the consumable article, wherein the processing unit executes learning of a neural network.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-07-06	2002-01-05	2002-07-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-07-06	2006-01-05	2006-07-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-07-06	2010-01-05	2010-07-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Image forming apparatus estimating a consumable life of a component using fuzzy logic

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