Fujifilm business innovation corp. (20240103432). IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM STORING IMAGE FORMING PROGRAM simplified abstract

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM STORING IMAGE FORMING PROGRAM

Organization Name

fujifilm business innovation corp.

Inventor(s)

Kazunobu Uchiyama of Kanagawa (JP)

Takumi Nishikata of Kanagawa (JP)

Eiichi Waida of Kanagawa (JP)

Hideo Kimura of Kanagawa (JP)

Yusuke Chika of Kanagawa (JP)

Yuzo Fujita of Kanagawa (JP)

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM STORING IMAGE FORMING PROGRAM - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240103432 titled 'IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM STORING IMAGE FORMING PROGRAM

Simplified Explanation

The image forming apparatus described in the abstract includes multiple image forming units with image forming sections and an intermediate transfer body for transferring toner images. The processor in the apparatus is designed to prompt the user to exchange consumable units between image forming sections if one unit is insufficient and there is a matching unit in another image forming unit.

• The image forming apparatus has multiple image forming units with image forming sections and an intermediate transfer body.
• The processor prompts the user to exchange consumable units between image forming sections if one unit is insufficient and there is a matching unit in another image forming unit.

Potential Applications

This technology could be applied in various industries where high-quality image printing is required, such as printing and publishing, graphic design, and advertising.

Problems Solved

This technology solves the problem of efficiently managing consumable units in an image forming apparatus, ensuring continuous operation without interruptions due to consumable shortages.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include improved user experience, reduced downtime, and cost savings by optimizing the use of consumable units in the image forming apparatus.

Potential Commercial Applications

A potential commercial application of this technology could be in the production printing industry, where large volumes of high-quality prints are required on a regular basis.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art for this technology could be systems that prompt users to replace consumables in printers or copiers based on usage levels or sensor data.

How does the processor determine when a consumable unit is insufficient and needs to be exchanged?

The processor likely monitors the usage levels of consumable units in each image forming section and compares them to predefined thresholds to determine when a unit is running low.

What is the user interface like for exchanging consumable units in the image forming apparatus?

The user interface may include prompts or notifications on the control panel of the apparatus, guiding the user through the process of exchanging consumable units between image forming sections.

Original Abstract Submitted

an image forming apparatus includes plural image forming units including plural image forming sections and an intermediate transfer body to which a toner image formed on the plural image forming sections is primarily transferred, and a processor, in which wherein the processor is configured to, in a case where, during image formation using any of the image forming units among the image forming units, in a case where a consumable of any of the image forming sections of the image forming unit is insufficient, an image forming section of an identical color to the image forming section of which the consumable is insufficient is present in another image forming unit, and a storage medium for storing management information for managing a consumable unit is not provided in the consumable unit attached to the image forming section of which the consumable is insufficient, ask a user whether or not to exchange the consumable unit attached to the image forming section of which the consumable is insufficient and a consumable unit set in the image forming section of the other image forming unit, and, in a case where information indicating a selection to exchange the consumable units has been received from the user, exchange pieces of management information of the two exchanged consumable units.