Image forming apparatus and image forming method

Claim 2

An image forming apparatus that uses a removable developer replenishing unit, which contains a developer to replenish a developing portion with the developer, the developer replenishing unit including storing means, which comprises a first storage portion for storing identification information related to the developer replenishing unit and a second storage portion For storing history information related to the developer replenishing unit, and a developer supplying member for supplying the developer from the developer replenishing unit to the developing portion, said image forming apparatus comprising: an identification judgment means for judging whether stored identification information corresponds to identification information included in a main body of said image forming apparatus; a life judgment means for judging whether an actual utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit has reacted a predetermined utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit according to the history information, wherein said life judgment means performs the judging function if it is judged by said identification judgment means that the stored identification information corresponds to the identification information included in said main body; developer density detection means for detecting developer density information relating to the supplied developer; and controlling means for determining whether the developer density information is less than a reference value and for controlling an operation of said developer supplying member according to the history information if the developer density information is less than the reference value, wherein said controlling means performs the determining and controlling functions if it is judged by said life judgment means that the actual utilization amount has not reached the predetermined utilization amount.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said controlling means includes: driving amount determining means for determining a driving amount of the developer supplying member according to the developer density information; and variable power control means for controlling a supplied developer amount by multiplying the determined driving amount by a number according to the actual utilization amount.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising: utilization amount calculating means for calculating the actual utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit according to the determined driving amount.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the history information includes the calculated actual utilization amount.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the history information includes threshold information indicative of a service life of the developer replenishing unit for use in performing at least one of stopping an operation of said image forming apparatus and informing a user of a level of the service life.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the history information contains driving control threshold information indicative of a timing of multiplying a driving amount of the developer supplying member by a number and correction constants information for correcting the actual utilization amount.

Claim 8

An apparatus according claim 6 , wherein the correction constants information includes at least one of the following correction constants: a developer kind correction constant based on a kind of the developer contained in the developer replenishing unit; a humidity correction constant based on variations in humidity of the developer contained in the developer replenishing unit; a utilization amount collection constant based on the actual utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit; a driving amount correction constant based on the driving amount of the developer supplying member, and a parts history correction constant based on parts constituting the developer replenishing unit.

Claim 9

An image forming method for use with an image forming apparatus including a removable developer replenishing unit, which contains a developer to replenish a developing portion with the developer, the developer replenishing unit including a storing means comprising a first storage portion for storing identification information related to the developer replenishing unit and a second storage portion for storing history information related to the developer replenishing unit, and a developer supplying member for supplying the developer from the developer replenishing unit to the developing portion, said image forming method comprising: an identification judgment step of judging whether the stored identification data corresponds to identification information included in a main body of the image forming apparatus; a life judgment step of judging whether an actual utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit has reached a predetermined utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit according to the history information, wherein said life judgment step is performed if it is judged in said identification judgment step that the stored identification data corresponds to the identification information included in the main body; a developer density detection step of detecting developer density information relating to the supplied developer; a developer density judgment step of judging whether the developer density information is less than a reference value; and a developer supply controlling step of controlling an operation of the developer supplying member according to the history information, if the developer density information is less than the reference value, wherein said developer supply controlling step is performed if it is judged in said life judgment step that utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit has not reached the predetermined utilization amount.

Claim 10

An image forming method for use with an image forming apparatus including a removable developer replenishing unit, which contains a developer to replenish a developing portion with the developer, the developer replenishing unit including a storing means comprising a first storage portion for storing identification information related to the developer replenishing unit and a second storage portion for storing history information related to the developer replenishing unit, and a developer supplying member for supplying the developer from the developer replenishing unit to the developing portion, said image forming method comprising: an identification judgment step of judging whether the stored identification data corresponds to identification information included in a main body of the image forming apparatus; a life judgment step of judging whether an actual utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit has reached a predetermined utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit according to the history information, wherein said life judgment step is performed if it is judged in said identification judgment step that the stored identification data corresponds to the identification information included in the main body; a developer density detection step of detecting developer density information relating to the supplied developer; a developer density judgment step of judging whether the developer density information is less than a reference value; and a developer supply controlling step of controlling an operation of the developer supplying member according to the history information, if the developer density information is less than the reference value, wherein said developer supply controlling step is performed if it is judged in said life judgment step that utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit has not reached the predetermined utilization amount.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 8 , wherein said developer supply controlling step includes: a driving amount determining step of determining a driving amount of the developer supplying member according to the developer density information; and a variable power control step of controlling a supplied developer amount by multiplying the determined driving amount by a number according to the actual utilization amount.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 9 , further comprising: a utilization amount calculating step of calculating the actual utilization amount according to the determined driving amount.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 10 , further comprising: a step of storing the calculated actual utilization amount as the history information.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 8 , wherein the history information includes threshold information indicative of a service life of the developer replenishing unit for use in performing at least one of stopping the operation of the developing portion and informing a user of a level of the service life.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 8 , wherein the history information includes threshold information indicative of a timing of driving the developer supplying member and correction constants information for correcting the actual utilization amount.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 13 , wherein the correction constants information includes at least one of the following correction constants: a developer kind correction constant based on a kind of the developer contained in the developer replenishing unit; a humidity correction constant based on variations in humidity of the developer contained in the developer replenishing unit; a utilization amount correction constant based on the actual utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit: a driving amount correction constant based on a driving amount of the developer supplying member, and a parts history correction constant hated on parts constituting the developer replenishing unit.

Claim 19

A medium according to claim 15 , wherein if a developer supplying amount of the developer is controlled, the program further comprises code for executing: a driving amount determining step of determining a driving amount of the developer supplying member according to the developer density information; and a variable power control step of a controlling a supplied developer amount by multiplying the determined driving amount by a number according to the actual utilization amount.

Claim 20

A medium according to claim 16 , wherein the program further comprises code or executing: a calculating step of calculating the actual utilization amount according to the determined driving amount.

Claim 21

A medium according to claim 17 , wherein the program further comprises code for executing: a storing step of storing the calculated actual utilization amount as the history information.

Claim 22

A medium according to claim 15 , wherein the history information includes threshold information indicative of a service life of the developer replenishing unit for use in performing at least one of stopping the operation of the developing portion and informing a user of a level of the service life.

Claim 23

A medium according to claim 15 , wherein the history information includes driving control threshold information indicative of a tinting of multiplying the driving amount of the developer supplying member by a number and correction constants information for correcting the actual utilization amount.

Claim 24

A medium according claim 20 , wherein the correction constants includes at least one of the following correction constants: a developer kind correction constant based on a kind of the developer contained in the developer replenishing unit: a humidity correction constant based on variations in humidity of the developer contained in the developer replenishing unit; a utilization amount correction constant based on the actual utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit; a driving amount correction constant based on the driving amount of the developer supplying member, and a parts history correction constant based on parts constituting the developer replenishing unit.

Claim 25

An image forming apparatus that uses a removable recording agent replenishing unit, which contains a recording agent to replenish a recording portion, the recording agent replenishing unit including a storing means, which comprises a first storage portion for storing identification information related to the recording agent replenishing unit and a second storage portion for storing history information related to the recording agent, and a recording agent supplying member for supplying the recording agent to the recording portion, said image forming apparatus comprising: an identification judgment means for judging whether the stored identification information corresponds to identification in formation included in a main body of said image forming apparatus; a life judgment means for judging whether an actual utilization amount of the recording agent replenishing unit has reached a predetermined utilization amount of the recording agent replenishing unit according to the history information, wherein said life judgment means performs the judging function if it is judged by said identification judgment means that the stored identification information corresponds to the identification information included in said main body; recording agent detection means for detecting recording agent density information relating to the supplied recording agent; and controlling means for determining whether the recording agent density information is less than a reference value and for controlling an operation of the recording agent supplying member according to the history information if the recording agent density information is less than the reference value, wherein said controlling means performs the determining and controlling functions if it is judged by said life judgment means that the actual utilization amount has not reached the predetermined utilization amount.

Claim 26

An image forming apparatus that uses a removable recording agent replenishing unit, which contains a recording agent to replenish a recording portion, the recording agent replenishing unit including a storing means, which comprises a first storage portion for storing identification information related to the recording agent replenishing unit and a second storage portion for storing history information related to the recording agent, and a recording agent supplying member for supplying the recording agent to the recording portion, said image forming apparatus comprising: an identification judgment means for judging whether the stored identification information corresponds to identification in formation included in a main body of said image forming apparatus; a life judgment means for judging whether an actual utilization amount of the recording agent replenishing unit has reached a predetermined utilization amount of the recording agent replenishing unit according to the history information, wherein said life judgment means performs the judging function if it is judged by said identification judgment means that the stored identification information corresponds to the identification information included in said main body; recording agent detection means for detecting recording agent density information relating to the supplied recording agent; and controlling means for determining whether the recording agent density information is less than a reference value and for controlling an operation of the recording agent supplying member according to the history information if the recording agent density information is less than the reference value, wherein said controlling means performs the determining and controlling functions if it is judged by said life judgment means that the actual utilization amount has not reached the predetermined utilization amount.

Claim 27

An apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein said controlling means includes: driving amount determining means for determining a driving amount of the recording agent supplying member according to the recording agent density information; and variable power control means for controlling a supplied recording agent amount by multiplying the determined driving amount of the recording agent supplying member by a number according to a utilization amount of recording agent.

Claim 28

An apparatus according to claim 23 , further comprising: a utilization amount calculating means for calculating the actual utilization amount of the recording agent replenishing member according to the determined driving amount.

Claim 29

An apparatus according to claim 24 , further comprising: storing means for storing the calculated actual utilization amount as the history information.

Claim 30

An image forming method for forming images for use with a removable recording agent replenishing unit, which contains a recording agent, and controlling the replenishment of the recording agent from the recording agent replenishing unit to a recording portion, said recording agent replenishing unit including a storing means comprising a first storage portion for storing identification information related to the recording agent replenishing unit and a second storage portion for storing history information related to the recording agent replenishing unit, and a recording agent supplying member for supplying the recording agent to the recording portion, said image forming method comprising: an identification judgment step of judging whether the stored identification information corresponds to identification information included in a main body of the image forming apparatus; a life judgment step of judging whether an actual utilization amount of the recording agent replenishing unit has reached a predetermined utilization amount of the recording agent replenishing unit according to the history information, wherein said life judgment step is performed if it is judged in said identification judgment step that the stored identification information corresponds to the identification information included in the main body; a recording agent density detection step of detecting density information relating to the supplied recording agent; a recording agent density judgment step of judging whether the density information is less than a reference value; and a recording agent supplying controlling step of controlling an operation of the recording agent supplying member according to the history information, if the density information is less than the reference value, wherein said recording agent supplying controlling step is performed if it is judged in said life judgment step that the utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit has not reached the predetermined utilization amount.

Claim 31

An image forming method for forming images for use with a removable recording agent replenishing unit, which contains a recording agent, and controlling the replenishment of the recording agent from the recording agent replenishing unit to a recording portion, said recording agent replenishing unit including a storing means comprising a first storage portion for storing identification information related to the recording agent replenishing unit and a second storage portion for storing history information related to the recording agent replenishing unit, and a recording agent supplying member for supplying the recording agent to the recording portion, said image forming method comprising: an identification judgment step of judging whether the stored identification information corresponds to identification information included in a main body of the image forming apparatus; a life judgment step of judging whether an actual utilization amount of the recording agent replenishing unit has reached a predetermined utilization amount of the recording agent replenishing unit according to the history information, wherein said life judgment step is performed if it is judged in said identification judgment step that the stored identification information corresponds to the identification information included in the main body; a recording agent density detection step of detecting density information relating to the supplied recording agent; a recording agent density judgment step of judging whether the density information is less than a reference value; and a recording agent supplying controlling step of controlling an operation of the recording agent supplying member according to the history information, if the density information is less than the reference value, wherein said recording agent supplying controlling step is performed if it is judged in said life judgment step that the utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit has not reached the predetermined utilization amount.

Claim 32

A method according to claim 26 , wherein said recording agent supplying controlling step comprises: a driving amount determining step of determining a driving amount of the recording agent supplying member according to the density information; and a variable power control step of controlling a supplied recording agent amount by multiplying the determined amount by a number according to the actual utilization amount of the recording agent.

Claim 33

A method according to claim 27 , further comprising: a utilization amount calculating step of calculating the actual utilization amount according to the determined driving amount.

Claim 34

A method according to claim 28 , further comprising: a step of storing the calculated actual utilization amount as the history information.

Claim 37

A medium according to claim 30 , wherein when a supplying amount of the recording agent is controlled, the program further comprises code for: executing a driving amount determining step of determining a driving amount of the recording agent supplying member according to the density information; and executing a variable power control step of controlling a supplied recording agent amount by multiplying the determined driving amount of the recording agent supplying member by a number according to the actual utilization amount.

Claim 38

A medium according to claim 31 , wherein the actual utilization amount is calculated according to the driving amount of the recording agent supplying member.

Claim 39

A medium according to claim 32 , wherein the program further comprises code for executing a storing step of storing the calculated actual utilization amount as the history information.

Claim 40

An image forming apparatus useable with a removable developer replenishment unit for containing a developer, the developer replenishment unit including a developer supply member configured to supply the developer from the developer replenishment unit to a developing unit and a storing unit having a storage portion configured to store history information relating to a driving amount of the developer supplying member, said image forming apparatus comprising: a detecting unit configured to detect developer density information relating to the developer supplied to the developing unit; and a control unit configured to control and operate the developer supplying member according to the history information and the developer density information.

Claim 41

An image forming apparatus useable with a removable developer replenishment unit for containing a developer, the developer replenishment unit including a developer supply member configured to supply the developer from the developer replenishment unit to a developing unit and a storing unit having a storage portion configured to store history information relating to a driving amount of the developer supplying member, said image forming apparatus comprising: a detecting unit configured to detect developer density information relating to the developer supplied to the developing unit; and a control unit configured to control and operate the developer supplying member according to the history information and the developer density information.

Claim 42

An apparatus according to claim 34 , wherein said control determines driving amount of the developer supply member according to the developer density information, and wherein said control unit changes the driving amount according to the history in formation.

Claim 43

An apparatus according to claim 35 , further comprising: a utilization amount calculating unit configured to calculate an actual utilization amount of the developer according to the determined driving amount.

Claim 44

An apparatus according to claim 36 , wherein the history information includes the calculated actual utilization amount.

Claim 45

An apparatus according to claim 36 , wherein the history information includes driving control threshold information indicative of a timing of multiplying a driving amount of the developer supply member by a number and correction constants information for correcting the actual utilization amount.

Claim 46

An apparatus according to claim 34 , wherein the history information includes threshold information indicative of at least one of slopping an operation of the image forming apparatus and informing a user of a level of a utilization amount of the developer replenishing unit.